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287  S.  BROADWAY          YONKERS  5,  N.  Y 


THE  TRAGEDY 


OF 


WILD  RIVER  VALLEY 


BY 

MARTHA    FINLEY 

AUTHOR  OF  "SIGNING  THE  CONTRACT,"  "THE  ELSIE  BOOKS,"  ETC.,  ETC.,  ETC. 


NEW   YORK 

DODD,     MEAD    &    COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS 


COPYRIGHT,  1893, 

BY 

DODD,  MEAD  &  COMPANY. 
[All  rights  reserved.] 


°li 

f5"/3 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY, 


CHAPTER   I. 

ALONG  a  quiet  road  a  man  was  walking  at  a 
steady,  swinging  pace.  He  was  above  the 
medium  height,  strongly  built,  and  his  erect 
carriage  bespoke  him  one  accustomed  to  mili- 
tary drill,  while  the  knapsack  swung  over  his 
shoulder  and  the  blue  overcoat  on  his  arm 
seemed  to  indicate  that  he  was  one  of  the  re- 
turning  veterans  of  the  lately  disbanded  Union 
army. 

His  face,  young  and  strongly  Celtic  in  fea- 
ture, was  not  unhandsome,  though  marred  by  a 
sinister  expression.  It  was  that  of  a  bold,  bad 
man  on  the  alert  to  better  his  own  fortunes 
without  regard  to  the  rights  of  others  ;  and  as 
he  pressed  onward  he  sent  many  a  covetous 
glance  toward  the  comfortable  farmhouses, 
orchards,  and  rich  harvest  fields  on  either  hand. 

At  length,  turning  aside  from  the  main  road 
and  making  his  way  through  a  bit  of  woods,  he 
paused  in  front  of  a  rude  cabin  standing  in  a 

M668774 


2       THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

potato  patch,  enclosed  by  a  rough,  zigzag  rail- 
fence.  An  old  man  in  patched,  worn,  and  by 
no  means  clean  garments  sat  on  the  door-step 
smoking  a  dirty  pipe. 

His  wife  stood  just  behind  him  with  her  knit- 
ting, a  coarse  woollen  stocking,  in  her  hands. 
She  threw  it  from  her  as  the  traveller  opened 
the  gate,  and  with  a  wild  cry,  "  It's  me  son  ! 
me  bye  Phalim  come  home  till  his  mither  at 
last !"  rushed  out  and  threw  herself  upon  his 
breast,  weeping  for  very  joy. 

He  returned  her  embrace  with  ardor  almost 
equal  to  her  own,  filial  affection  so  softening  his 
countenance  that  the  evil  look  was  banished  for 
the  moment. 

The  old  man  rose  with  trembling  eagerness 
and  grasped  his  son's  hand.  "  An'  it's  yersilf, 
lad  !"  he  cried.  "  Thank  the  blessed  Vargin 
an'  all  the  howly  saints  that  ye've  come  back 
till  yer  mither  an'  me  alive  an*  well  afther  all 
the  fightin'  ye've  been  in  !" 

There  were  rapid  questions  and  answers, 
knapsack  and  overcoat  were  bestowed  within 
the  cabin,  a  chair  or  two  were  brought  out  into 
the  shade  before  the  door,  and  with  a  pipe 
apiece  and  a  bottle  of  whiskey  the  three  made 
themselves  comfortable,  while  Phelim  gave  an 
account  of  his  wanderings  and  exploits,  invent- 
ing, embellishing,  or  suppressing  occurrences 
as  suited  his  fancy. 

"  An'  have  yees  made  yer  fortin,  Phalim,  me 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.      3 

lad  ?"  queried  his  mother,  regarding  him  with 
a  look  of  maternal  pride  and  fondness. 

44  Not  jist  yit,  ould  lady,"  he  answered,  with 
an  unpleasant  laugh  ;  "  but,"  pulling  out  a  hand- 
ful of  gold  and  silver  coins  and  a  roll  of  bank- 
notes, "  here's  the  beginnin'  o't." 

She  reached   out  an   eager  hand,    while  her 
old  eyes  reflected   the   covetous  gleam  in  his. 
4  Ye'll  share  wid  yer  ould  fayther  and  mither, 
Phalim,  me  darlint  ?" 

4  Wan  o'  these  days  maybe,"  he  said,  return- 
ing the  money  to  his  pocket.  "  I'm  goin'  intil 
a  lineav  business  that'll  pay  ;  an'  I'll  have  yees 
soonlivin'  in  betther  style,"  he  said,  with  a  con- 
temptuous glance  at  their  mean  and  squalid 
surroundings. 

4  Them's  not  .all  sodger's  wages,  me  lad," 
remarked  the  old  man,  with  a  knowing  look. 

'Did  yees  iver  hear  o'  bounty  -jumpin'  ?" 
returned  his  son,  with  a  coarse  laugh.  "It's 
been  a  dangerous  business,  but,  faith,  a  payin' 
wan,  too  ;  an'  a  smart  chap  cud  foind  chances 
now  an*  agin  to  hilp  hisself  amang  the  rebs  an' 
the  wounded." 

14  An'  Phalim  wasn't  the  bye  to  neglict  his 
chances  ;  was  ye,  lad  ?"  chuckled  the  old  father. 

14  Niver  a  bit  o't,  dad  ;  an'  it's  mesilt,  Phalim 
O'Rourke,  as  manes  to  be  a  moighty  rich  man 
wan  o'  these  days.  Me  gurrul,  Belinda,  shall 
roide  intil  her  coach  an'  wear  her  foine  goold 
ornaments  an'  her  silks  an'  satins  wid  the  best" 


4       THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY. 

But  observing  significant  glances  passing  be- 
tween  the  old  people,  while  his  mother  took  her 
pipe  from  her  mouth  and  shook  her  head  rue- 
fully, "What's  wrong?"  he  demanded,  the 
color  paling  on  his  sunburnt  cheek  ;  "  don't 
tell  me  annything's  happened  till  her,  the  pur- 
tiest  and  swatest  gurrul  in  Ameriky  !" 

At  that  his  mother  burst  out  into  an  angry 
denunciation  of  the  girl  ;  she  was  unworthy 
of  his  love  ;  she  was  faithless  ;  she  had  been 
married  for  a  year  to  an  old  farmer  living  some 
miles  away.  The  man  was  well  off,  and  his 
money,  house,  and  land  had  bought  the  silly, 
faithless  creature. 

Phelim's  face  grew  white  with  disappoint- 
ment and  rage  as  he  listened  to  the  tale  ;  he 
clinched  his  fists  and  swore  with  horrible  oaths 
that  he  would  be  revenged  upon  them  both. 
He  would  shoot  the  old  man  dead  in  his  tracks 
and  blow  out  the  brains  of  the  faithless  girl. 

"  Aisy,  aisy,  Phalim,  me  darlint  !  don't  yees 
be  afther  runnin*  yer  neck  intil  a  halter  for  the 
loikes  av  thim,  the  warthless  varmints,"  re- 
turned his  mother,  alarmed  at  his  vehemence. 

"  Sorra  a  bit  o'  that  same,"  he  growled  ; 
"  there's  niver  a  bit  o'  hangin'  in  this  State." 

"  Eh  !  no  ;  are  yees  sure  o'  that  same  ?"  she 
exclaimed,  in  surprise.  "  An'  what  fur  wadn't 
they  be  for  takin'  the  loives  o'  thim  as  takes 
other  folk's  ?" 

"  It's  agin  the  law,"  he  answered,  shortly. 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.       5 

14  State's  prison  for  life's  near  about  as  bad  as 
swingin',"  suggested  the  old  man. 

"  But  while  there's  life  there's  hope,"  re- 
marked his  son,  significantly  ;  "  hope  o'  break- 
in'  jail  or  being  pardoned  out  ;  an'  it's  mesilf  as 
wadn't  be  af eared  to  take  me  chance  o'  one  or 
t'other." 

'  Ye  wuz  always  a  brave  bye  an'  a  lucky 
wan,  Phalim,"  was  his  mother's  comment  as 
she  rose  and  set  about  preparing  the  evening 
meal. 

When  the  hour  for  retiring  came  Phelim  de- 
clined to  sleep  in  the  house,  averring  that  long 
use  had  made  mother  earth  a  more  comfortable 
couch  to  him  than  the  softest  of  beds,  and 
taught  him  that  he  could  breathe  more  freely 
under  the  open  sky  than  beneath  any  roof. 
Spreading  his  army  blanket  under  a  tree  some 
hundreds  of  yards  distant  from  the  cabin,  he 
threw  himself  down  upon  it  and  fell  asleep. 

Hours  passed  on,  while  all  was  quiet  save  the 
murmur  of  a  brook  near  at  hand  and  the  rustle 
of  the  night  wind  in  the  treetops  ;  then  a  shrill 
whistle  roused  him. 

He  started  up  and  listened.  It  came  again, 
louder,  shriller  than  before.  He  answered  it, 
and  moved  swiftly  in  the  direction  of  the  sound, 
which  seemed  to  come  from  the  road  from 
which  he  had  yesterday  turned  aside  to  gain 
his  father's  dwelling.  It  was  long  past  mid- 
night, but  darkness  still  brooded  over  the  land, 


6       THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

and  few  were  abroad  save  those  bent  upon  evil 
deeds.  To  that  class  belonged  Phelim  and 
those  who  had  summoned  him  to  their  aid.  In 
the  shadow  of  the  trees  bordering  the  roadside 
lurked  three  men  awaiting  the  coming  of  their 
leader  ;  for  such  Phelim  was. 

"Where  are  yees,  byes?"  he  asked  in  an 
undertone  as  he  drew  cautiously  near. 

"  Here,  sor,"  replied  a  suppressed  voice,  in 
as  rich  a  brogue  as  his  own. 

The  three  joined  him,  and  a  whispered  con- 
ference ensued,  the  chief  speaker  being  one  who 
answered  to  the  name  of  Teddy  McManus. 
He  was  describing  a  country-seat,  the  situation 
of  doors  and  windows,  arrangement  and  con- 
tents of  its  lower  rooms.  "  We'll  git  in  aisy," 
he  said  ;  "  wan  o'  thim  kitchin  doors  ain't  got 
no  bolt  at  all  at  all— nothin'  but  a  common 
lock  ;  an'  a  wire'll  turn  the  kay  an'  let  us  in  as 
aisy  as  the  masther  hissilf  walks  intil  the  front 
door  wid  his  latch-kay.  An'  thin  it's  all  plain 
sailin'  ;  dinin'-room  nixt,  solid  siller  a  plenty  on 
the  sideboard  ;  beyontthat,  jistacrost  the  hall's 
the  lib'ry,  where  he  kapes  his  money." 

"  But  where  he  won't  kape  it  much  longer," 
put  in  one  of  the  others. 

'  We'll  do  oor  indivors  to  relave  him  o't  the 
noight,  if  that's  yer  wull,  captain,"  continued 
Teddy's  rough  voice. 

'  Yis,  if  yees  are  all  agraable.  What's  yer 
wull,  Gotlieb  ?  an'  yours,  Pat?" 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.       7 

"  I  dinks  we  goes  ;  and  we  petter  makes 
haste,"  answered  the  first. 

Patrick  echoed  the  sentiment,  and  they  set 
off  at  once,  walking  rapidly  in  a  direction  op- 
posite to  that  from  which  Phelim  had  come 
some  hours  ago. 

They  were  armed  with  pistols  and  knives, 
and  carried  with  them  a  dark  lantern  and  a  full 
set  of  burglars'  tools. 

When  the  family  at  Walnut  Hill  rose  from 
that  night's  slumbers  it  was  to  find  that  butter, 
bread,  meat,  and  other  edibles  had  disappeared 
from  spring-house  and  pantry  ;  also  all  the  silver 
ware  from  the  dining-room  ;  and  that  the  secre- 
tary in  the  library  had  been  robbed  of  several 
hundred  dollars  in  gold  and  silver,  bank-notes, 
and  United  States  bonds. 


CHAPTER   II. 

IT  was  near  sunset  of  a  lovely  June  day.  An 
hour  earlier  Dr.  Jasper  had  invited  his  wife 
to  drive  with  him  a  few  miles  into  the  country, 
whither  professional  duties  summoned  him. 
These  had  been  attended  to,  and  they  were 
travelling  toward  their  home  in  Prairieville 
again. 

Their  way  lay  along  the  bank  of  the  river, 
which  in  this  part  of  its  course  moved  with 
majestic  quiet,  reflecting  in  its  clear  depths  the 
beautiful  blue  of  the  sky  overhead,  the  glories 
of  the  sunset  clouds,  and  the  overshadowing 
trees  on  the  hither  shore.  On  the  opposite 
bank  a  stretch  of  white  sand,  a  few  feet  in  width, 
bordered  green  fields  and  meadows,  beyond 
which  rose  richly  wooded  hills. 

"It  is  a  beautiful  country,"  remarked  Mrs. 
Jasper,  in  her  soft,  girlish  tones.  "  But  where 
now  ?"  as  horse  and  gig  took  a  sudden  turn  in 
a  westerly  direction  ;  "this  is  not  the  direct 
route  home/' 

'  To  Lakeside,  my  dear/'  replied  her  husband. 
'  That  is  where  the  Heaths  reside,  isn't  it  ?" 
'  Yes  ;  and  a  very  attractive  place  it  is  ;  I 
want  3'ou  to  see  it. ' ' 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.       9 

44  But,  doctor,  Miss  Heath  has  not  called 
upon  me." 

He  gave  her  a  half-reproachful,  half-humor- 
ous look.  "So  I  am  your  doctor?  nothing 
nearer  or  dearer,  eh,  Serena  ?"  he  said,  drop- 
ping the  reins  on  his  horse's  neck  and  bending 
down  to  look  into  her  eyes — large,  soft,  dark- 
brown  orbs  shaded  by  heavy  silken  lashes. 

She  was  a  handsome  brunette,  and  so  youth- 
ful in  appearance  that  few  would  have  taken 
her  to  be  the  mother  of  the  three-year-old  boy 
seated  on  a  stool  between  them. 

"  You  is  my  new  papa,  and  me  'ikes  you," 
remarked  that  young  gentleman,  rising  hastily 
to  his  feet,  with  the  evident  intention  of  bestow- 
ing a  hug  upon  the  person  addressed. 

"  Sit  still,  Perry  ;  you'll  fall  out  of  the  gig 
and  be  killed,"  said  his  mother,  putting  a  hand 
on  his  shoulder  and  forcing  him  down  again. 
"  Alonzo,  do  make  him  behave." 

"  He's  going  to  do  that  of  his  own  free  will," 
replied  the  doctor,  smiling  down  upon  the  little 
prattler.  "  You  know  you  must  keep  quiet, 
my  little  man,  if  you  want  to  ride  with  your 
mamma  and  me." 

"  Miss  Heath  has  not  called  upon  me  yet, 
Alonzo,"  repeated  Serena,  "and  it  is  not  ac- 
cording to  the  rules  of  etiquette  for  me  to  go 
there  before  she  does." 

41  Ah,  no  matter  for  that,  my  love,  since  her 
failure  to  do  so  has  not  been  for  want  of  will, 


lo     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

but  of  ability  ;  and  to  please  me  and  poor 
Ronald,  3^011  will  consent  to  waive  ceremony  in 
this  instance,  I  am  sure." 

"How  want  of  ability?"  she  asked,  with  a 
slight  pout  of  the  full  red  lips  ;  "  what  has  there 
been  to  prevent  her?  'Tis  over  a  week  since 
we  came  to  Prairieville,  and  the  weather  has 
been  charming." 

"  Yes,  I  know  ;  but  Miriam  Heath's  life  is  a 
very  busy  one  ;  she  is  a  girl  in  a  thousand. 
Why,  my  dear,  since  her  mother's  death,  two 
years  ago,  she  has  actually  carried  on  the  farm- 
ing herself  ;  and  she  is  only  twenty-one,  scarce 
a  year  older  than  her  brave  soldier  brother." 

"  A  woman  farmer  !  odious  !  She  must  be  a 
coarse,  vulgar  creature.  How  can  you  want 
me  to  visit  her,  Alonzo  ?" 

"  My  dear  Serena,  you  were  never  more  mis- 
taken," he  said,  warmly.  "  Miss  Heath  is  as 
refined  and  ladylike  as  any  woman  of  my  ac- 
quaintance." 

"  That  doesn't  seem  possible  if  she  works  in 
the  field  like  a  man." 

He  smiled.  "  It  is  the  head  work  she  does- 
overseeing  and  directing  -while  the  actual  hard 
labor,  ploughing,  sowing,  reaping,  foddering 
the  cattle,  and  so  forth,  is  done  by  hired  men." 

We  will  put  in  a  few  words  the  story  of  the 
Heath  family,  which  the  doctor  proceeded  to 
tell  his  wife. 

The  parents  of  Miriam  and  Ronald  were  per- 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.     II 

sons  of  education  and  refinement,  native-born 
Americans,  who  shortly  after  their  marriage 
had  sought  a  home  in  this  Northwestern  State, 
locating  themselves  on  the  banks  of  one  of  those 
pretty  little  lakes  so  common  in  that  region  of 
country,  and  within  a  mile  of  the  village  of 
Prairieville. 

When  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out 
Mr.  Heath  was  one  of  the  first  to  volunteer  for 
the  defence  of  the  imperilled  Union,  while  his 
wife,  equally  full  of  patriotic  zeal,  undertook  to 
fill  his  place  at  home  in  overseeing  and  direct- 
ing operations  upon  their  farm. 

In  this  she  proved  herself  most  efficient  and 
capable  ;  fields,  orchard,  and  garden  flourished 
under  her  sway,  cattle  increased  in  numbers 
and  grew  sleek  and  fat. 

In  the  second  year  of  the  war  her  husband 
came  home  sick  and  wounded,  to  die  in  her 
arms.  His  eldest  son,  a  lad  of  eighteen,  then 
enlisted  in  the  Union  army,  and  when,  a  few 
months  later,  Mrs.  Heath  followed  her  husband 
to  the  grave,  Miriam  assumed  the  whole  burden 
laid  down  by  her  mother — the  superintendence 
of  the  farm,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  her 
grandmother,  the  care  of  the  house  and  of  a  lit- 
tle brother  and  sister  many  years  younger  than 
herself  and  Ronald. 

Serena  listened  to  the  tale  with  interest  about 
equally  divided  between  it  and  the  beauties  of 
the  landscape. 


12     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

For  the  first  quarter  of  a  mile  the  road  made 
a  gradual  ascent  ;  then  the  home  of  the  Heaths 
came  into  view — a  comfortable  and  tasteful 
dwelling,  on  the  hither  side  of  the  pretty  sheet 
of  water  from  which  it  took  its  name.  A  grove 
of  forest  trees  half  hid  the  house  from  sight  as 
they  approached,  but  passing  that,  vine-wreath- 
ed porches,  lawn,  and  flower-garden  in  the  fore- 
ground, and  the  rippling,  sparkling  waters  of  the 
lake  beyond,  added  their  attractions  to  the  scene. 

Serena   uttered   an   exclamation   of    delight. 
1  Why,  it's  a  sort  of  paradise  !" 

"  A  very  fine  situation,"  responded  the  doc- 
tor ;  "high  and  healthful.  Look  off  yonder, 
my  dear  ;  there  lies  Prairieville,  apparently 
almost  at  our  feet.  They  have  a  fine  view  of  it 
from  the  front  porch." 

"  And  that  side  porch  overlooks  the  lake  ?" 
'  Yes.     The  sitting-room  opens  upon  it,  and 
at  this  hour  we  are  likely  to  find  the  family 
gathered  there."  • 

They  were  there  at  that  moment ;  the  early 
tea  had  been  partaken  of  and  cleared  away,  and 
the  grandmother  with  her  knitting  and  Miriam 
with  her  sewing  had  seated  themselves  near  the 
hammock  in  which  Ronald,  pale-faced  and  thin, 
and  with  his  left  arm  in  a  sling,  swung  slowly 
to  and  fro.  The  two  little  folks  were  present 
also  ;  Olive  turning  over  the  leaves  of  a  picture- 
book,  Bertie,  a  little  apart  from  the  others,  try- 
ing to  teach  his  dog  Frisk  a  new  trick. 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     13 

Ronald  was  a  dark-eyed,  handsome  youth, 
but  just  now  haggard  and  worn  ;  hardly  more 
than  the  ghost  of  himself,  as  Miriam  had  said 
again  and  again  in  tremulous  tones  and  with 
eyes  full  of  tears  since,  less  than  a  fortnight 
ago,  he  had  come  home  to  her  to  be  nursed 
back— if  such  were  the  will  of  Providence — to 
the  health  and  strength  of  which  wounds  and 
months  of  languishing  in  rebel  prisons  had  de- 
prived him. 

His  return  was  matter  of  great  rejoicing  to 
each  member  of  the  household,  yet  their  joy 
was  tempered  with  many  a  pang  at  thought  of 
his  sufferings,  past  and  present,  and  of  the  dear 
parents  who  would  return  no  more. 

"Grandma  and  Mirry,"  he  said,  breaking  a 
silence  which  had  fallen  upon  them  for  a  few 
moments,  "  this  is  paradise.  What  a  luxury  to 
breathe  this  pure,  sweet  air  ;  to  gaze  on  your 
flower-garden  there,  so  full  of  beauty  and 
sweetness  ;  the  green  grass,  the  waving  trees, 
and  the  lake  beyond  !  How  its  waters  sparkle 
in  the  light  of  the  setting  sun  !" 

1  Yes,  we  have  a  lovely  and  delightful  home 
here,"  responded  his  grandmother. 

"  And  you  are  one  of  those  who  appreciate 
their  mercies,  Ronald,"  Miriam  added,  with 
tender  look  and  tone. 

'  I  doubt  if  I  am  an  unusually  thankful  per- 
son," he  said,  glancing  around  at  her  with  a  pa- 
tient smile  ;  "  but  no  one  who  has  spent  weeks 


14     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

and  months  shut  up  in  a  squalid,  filthy  prison, 
devoured  by  vermin  and  fed  upon  food  a  dog 
would  turn  from,  could  help  enjoying  such  a 
change  as  this." 

"  Tell  us  some  more  'bout  it,  Brother  Ron- 
ald," pleaded  a  child's  voice  at  his  other  side. 

"Ah,  are  you  there,  Bertie?"  queried  Ron- 
ald, turning  his  head  to  look  at  the  speaker. 
"  I  thought  you  were  playing  with  your  dog." 

"  I  was,  but  he's  run  off,  and  now  I'd  like  a 
story." 

"  Well,  what  is  it  you  want  to  hear  ?" 

"  Everything." 

"  Not  all  at  once  ?"  questioned  Ronald,  with 
amusement,  stroking  the  child's  head  with  his 
pale  hand.  "  But  something  you  shall  hear, 
now  while  we  are  all  together,"  he  added.  "  I 
will  tell  you  about  the  battle  fought  close  to  the 
house  where  Mrs.  Jasper  and  her  father  and 
mother  lived  ;  though  she  was  not  Mrs.  Jasper 
then,  but  Mrs.  Golding,  a  very  young,  very 
pretty  widow  with  one  child,  a  little  boy." 

"  Was  that  where  you  got  shooted  ?"  asked 
Bertie. 

'  That  was  the  time  and  place  where  and 
when  I  received  a  wound  that  nearly  cost  me 
my  life,  and  I  shall  never  forget  the  doctor's 
kindness  to  me  or  the  motherly  care  of  the  old 
lady  ;  no,  nor  how  good  her  daughter  was  to 
me  and  the  other  poor  fellows.  I  don't  wonder 
Dr.  Jasper  fell  in  love  with  her. 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     15 

"  I  want  you  two  to  become  acquainted,"  he 
added,  addressing  Miriam  ;  "  you  are  both  so 
handsome  and  so  nice,  though  as  unlike  as  pos- 
sible in  character  and  in  looks,  that  1  think  you 
can't  help  liking  each  other  very  much  indeed." 

'  Yes  ;  perhaps  we  shall  fancy  each  other  all 
the  more  for  our  lack  of  resemblance,"  respond- 
ed Miriam,  with  a  quiet  smile.  "  Suppose  you 
describe  her  to  us." 

'  I  will.  Instead  of  your  fair  skin  and  dark 
blue  eyes,  she  has  brown  eyes  and  a  brunette 
complexion.  You  are  quick  and  sprightly -in 
your  movements  and  your  talk  and  are  full  of 
energy.  She  hasn't  a  bit  of  that,  but  talks  and 
moves  with  a  sort  of  languishing  grace  that  is 
charming  in  her,  but  would  not  suit  me  in  my 
sister.  I  am  very  proud  of  you,  Miriam,  and 
would  not  have  you  changed  from  what  you  are 
in  any  respect,"  he  added,  regarding  her  with 
eyes  that  were  full  of  fraternal  pride  and  affec- 
tion. 

'  Nor  I  you,"  she  returned,  tenderly  press- 
ing his  hand,  which  she  had  taken  in  hers  ; 
'  you  can  hardly  feel  so  proud  of  me  as  I  do  of 
my  brave  soldier-brother,  who  has  fought  and 
bled  for  his  country.  What  have  I  ever  done  in 
comparison  with  that?" 

"  Somebody's  coming  !  I  hear  wheels  !" 
exclaimed  Bertie.  '  Yes,  there's  Dr.  Jasper's 
gig  right  at  the  gate  ;  and  he's  helping  a  lady 
out  ;  and  there's  a  little  boy,  too." 


1 6     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

Miriam  laid  aside  her  sewing,  and  hurried  out 
to  meet  and  welcome  her  guests. 

The  doctor  introduced  his  wife,  explaining 
that  he  had  persuaded  her  to  disregard  the  rules 
of  etiquette  and  make  the  first  call. 

"  I  assure  you  I  appreciate  your  kindness, 
Mrs.  Jasper,"  Miriam  said,  with  a  warm  grasp 
of  the  little  gloved  hand,  and  an  admiring  look 
into  the  brown  eyes  of  the  pretty  ex-widow  ; 
"  and  Ronald  will  be  delighted  ;  he  has  just 
been  telling  us  of  all  your  and  your  mother's 
goodness  to  him  ; — yours,  too,  doctor." 

Her  voice  trembled  and  her  eyes  filled. 

"  It  wasn't  much  I  could  do,"  Serena  said, 
in  her  soft,  languishing  tones,  "  and  though  I 
was  the  biggest  kind  of  a  rebel,  I  couldn't  for 
the  life  of  me  help  liking  him  ;  and  so,  just  for 
his  sake,  you  see,  I  yielded  to  the  doctor's  en- 
treaties to  come  without  waiting  till  you  had 
called  upon  me,"  she  added,  saucily.  "  So 
won't  you  please  take  me  to  him  ?" 

'  Yes  ;  he  is  just  here  on  the  porch,  and  will 
be  delighted  to  see  you,"  Miriam  answered, 
leading  the  way. 

Ronald  would  have  risen  to  greet  them,  but 
both  the  doctor  and  Serena  bade  him  lie  still, 
for  he  was  almost  too  weak  for  any  other  than 
a  reclining  posture. 

The  Jaspers  were  scarcely  seated  when  there 
was  another  arrival  in  the  person  of  a  young, 
fine-looking  man  of  gallant  bearing,  whom  the 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     17 

doctor  and  Ronald  greeted  most  heartily  as 
'  Warren,"  and  introduced  to  Mrs.  Heath  and 
Miriam  as  Captain  Charlton. 

He  was  evidently  no  stranger  to  Serena  and 
her  boy,  the  latter  of  whom  speedily  claimed  a 
seat  upon  his  knee. 

Through  Ronald,  Miriam  and  Charlton  had 
heard  much  of  each  other,  and  the  captain  had 
long  felt  a  strong  desire  to  meet  the  sister  of 
whom  his  young  friend  always  spoke  with  great 
brotherly  pride  and  affection.  He  had  expect- 
ed to  be  disappointed  in  her,  but  he  was  not  ; 
he  found  something  in  her  appearance,  her 
manner,  her  conversation,  that  was  irresistibly 
charming. 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE  Jaspers  made  only  a  short  call,  but  when 
they  had  gone  the  captain  still  lingered, 
caressing  little  Olive,  whom  he  had  coaxed  to 
the  seat  upon  his  knee  vacated  by  Perry  Gold- 
ing,  talking  gayly  with  Ronald  about  some  of 
the  lighter  experiences  of  their  army  life — for 
they  had  been  companions  in  arms — yet  furtive- 
ly watching  Miriam  and  frequently  addressing 
a  remark  to  her. 

'  That  will  be  a  match,  you  may  depend 
upon  it,  Alonzo,"  Serena  said  to  her  husband, 
with  a  wise  nod  of  her  pretty  head  as  they 
drove  homeward. 

'  What  will  be  a  match,  my  dear  ?"  he  asked, 
giving  her  a  roguish  look  and  smile. 

"  Now,  you  needn't  pretend  that  you  don't 
understand  me,"  she  said  ;  "  you  know  very 
well  what  I  mean.  Captain  Charlton  is  smitten 
with  that  handsome  Miss  Heath,  and  I  saw  in  a 
minute  that  they  were  made  for  each  other." 

At  that  moment  a  horseman  came  dashing  up 
at  a  gallop,  bowing  and  lifting  his  hat  as  he  passed. 

"  Colonel  Bangs,"  murmured  Serena.  "  Alon- 
zo, I  perfectly  detest  that  man." 

"  In  which  you  are  by  no  means  peculiar," 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     19 

replied  the  doctor  ;  "  overbearing  and  tyranni- 
cal to  the  last  degree,  and  strongly  suspected 
of  cowardice  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  he  was 
cordially  hated  by  many  of  his  men." 

14  Is  he  going  to  Lakeside,  do  you  think  ?" 

The  doctor  put  his  head-  out  of  the  gig  and 
glanced  back  at  the  house  they  had  just  left. 

'  Yes,"  he  said,  drawing  it  in  again  ;  "  he  has 
reined  in  at  the  gate.  I  suspect  the  captain  is 
to  have  a  rival." 

'  If  it's  the  colonel,  I  don't  think  he  need  be 
alarmed,"  returned  Serena.  "  What  chance 
has  a  homely,  disagreeable  old  bachelor  beside 
a  handsome,  good-humored  young  fellow  like 
Captain  Charlton  ?" 

1 '  Ah,  but  the  colonel  is  said  to  be  in  very 
easy  circumstances  ;  while  Warren,  poor  fel- 
low, has  next  to  nothing." 

The  colonel  had  now  dismounted,  fastened 
his  horse,  and  entered  the  gate.  A  middle- 
aged  Irishman,  a  rough  but  good-humored- 
looking  fellow,  was  at  work  at  the  flower-beds. 
He  had  saluted  the  doctor  and  his  wife  cour- 
teously as  they  passed  him  ;  the  captain  also  ; 
but  looking  up  at  the  sound  of  Bangs's  entrance, 
and  seeing  who  it  was,  he  simply  scowled  and 
turned  to  his  work  again. 

'What  are  you  doing  here,  you  ras- 
cal ?"  demanded  Bangs,  in  an  insolent  tone. 

"  Mindin'  me  own  business,  sor  ;  an'  it's  yer- 
silf  that  had  betther  be  doin'  that  same,  an'  not 


20     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

meddlin'  wid  an  honest  man  as  yees  haven't  got 
no  authority  over  no  longer." 

A  lightning  glance  of  intense  scorn,  contempt, 
and  hatred,  accompanied  by  a  volley  of  oaths 
and  curses,  not  loud  but  deep  ;  and  with  that 
Bangs  turned  and  hurried  up  the  path  and 
around  to  the  side  porch,  where  the  family  and 
Captain  Charlton  were  sitting.  He  was  greet- 
ed politely,  and  invited  to  take  a  seat  among 
them  ;  but  his  arrival  seemed  to  act  as  a  damp- 
er upon  the  whole  party  ;  conversation  flagged, 
and  presently  there  was  dead  silence  for  a  mo- 
ment. It  was  broken  by  Bangs. 

"  This  is  a  lovely  spot,"  he  remarked,  send- 
ing a  sweeping  glance  around.  '  I  would  ad- 
vise you  to  have  a  care  whom  you  employ. 
These  fellows  who  have  been  in  the  army  dur- 
ing the  war" — and  he  nodded  in  the  direction  of 
the  front  garden — "  are  apt  to  be  lawless,  and 
too  ready  to  help  themselves  to  whatever  they 
can  lay  their  hands  on.  Got  in  the  way  of  it, 
you  know,  plundering  the  rebs. " 

"  I  must  say,  sir,  that  I  consider  your  remark 
grossly  unjust  to  our  brave  boys  in  blue,"  said 
Captain  Charlton,  his  cheek  reddening  and  his 
eye  flashing  ;  "for  though  there  could  not  fail 
to  be  many  bad  fellows  among  the  immense 
numbers  in  the  field,  the  large  majority  were 
loyal,  true,  and  honest,  and  have  gone  back  to 
civil  life  to  gain  an  honest  living  at  their  old 
employments." 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    21 

'  Yes  ;  and  it  is  so  with  Barney  Nolan, 
against  whom  you  seem  to  be  warning  us, 
Colonel  Bangs,"  Miriam  said,  with  spirit. 
"  Norah,  his  wife,  who  has  been  our  char- 
woman for  years  past,  tells  me  he  is  leading  a 
sober,  industrious  life,  treating  her  and  his  chil- 
dren kindly,  and  doing  his  best  to  provide  for 
them." 

"  Humph  !  What  kind  of  character  did  he 
bear  before  he  went  into  the  army?"  sneered 
Bangs. 

'  He  drank  a  good  deal  ;  but  army  life,  it 
seems,  has  reformed  and  improved  him.  A 
rather  unusual  effect,  doubtless,"  Miriam  con- 
cluded, with  a  mischievous  twinkle  of  the  eye 
and  a  meaning  look  at  her  antagonist. 

And  now  Mrs.  Heath,  the  gentle  old  grand- 
mother, desirous  to  pour  oil  upon  the  troubled 
waters,  put  in  her  soothing  word. 

"  Yes,  Barney  is  behaving  very  well  indeed  ; 
and  he  and  Norah  are  as  faithful  workers  as  one 
could  ask  for.  And  1  think  all  the  people  about 
here  are  honest.  I've  never  heard  of  a  burglary 
anywhere  in  this  region  of  country." 

"You  haven't?  Well,  I  can  tell  you  there 
was  a  daring  and  successful  one  last  night  at 
Walnut  Hill,  Judge  Hall's  place,  which,  you 
know,  is  not  many  miles  up  the  valley,"  re- 
turned Bangs,  with  evident  triumph. 

The  ladies  were  much  startled  ;  Ronald 
looked  troubled  and  anxious  ;  but  Captain 


22     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

Charlton  received  the  news  quietly,  remarking 
that  he  had  heard  it  some  hours  since,  but 
thought  it  not  worth  while  to  annoy  these 
friends  with  the  story,  as  it  could  only  rouse 
their  apprehensions  without  doing  any  good. 

' '  Have  they  been  caught?' '  asked  the  old  lady. 
'The    burglars?"    queried    Bangs,    with    a 
malicious  smile.     "  No,  madam  ;  not  yet." 

Then  he  went  on  to  describe  the  premises 
visited  by  Phelim  O'Rourke  and  his  confeder- 
ates, and  the  valuables  they  had  carried  off. 
He  seemed  to  take  pleasure  in  enlarging  upon 
the  ease  with  which  they  had  effected  an  en- 
trance, and  the  fact  that  they  were  men  evi- 
dently accomplished  in  the  art  of  housebreak- 
ing  and  lock-picking. 

Charlton  made  a  movement  to  go  ;  but  an 
entreating  look  and  word  from  Ronald  led  him 
to  resume  his  seat,  and  he  outstayed  the  colonel. 

When  the  latter  had  gone,  "  What  has  he 
against  Barney  Nolan  ?"  asked  the  old  lady. 

"  Barney  belonged  to  his  regiment,"  replied 
Ronald,  "  and  had  to  submit  to  many  an  act  of 
outrageous  tyranny  from  him." 

'  That  would  account  for  Barney's  disliking 
him,"  she  said,  doubtfully. 

"And  for  his  dislike  to  Barney,"  added 
Charlton.  "  A  man  hates  those  he  oppresses. 
Besides,  it  is  quite  likely  the  Irishman  has  re- 
torted with  his  tongue,  if  in  no  other  way,  as 
who  would  not  ?" 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE  robbery  at  Walnut  Hill  caused  a  good 
deal  of  excitement  in  Prairieville  and  for 
miles  up  and  down  Wild  River  Valley,  but  no 
clew  to  the  perpetrators  could  be  discovered. 

O'Rourke  and  his  confederates  scattered 
themselves  about  for  the  time,  seeking  work 
here  and  there  among  the  farmers,  with  whom 
it  was  a  busy  season,  behaved  through  the  day 
like  industrious  working-men  who  had  no 
thought  of  anything  but  earning  an  honest 
living  by  the  sweat  of  their  brows  ;  and  if  they 
met  at  night  while  others  slept,  to  hatch  their 
schemes  of  villainy,  it  was  always  in  some  lone- 
ly and  unfrequented  spot — the  depths  of  a  for- 
est, a  cave  among  the  hills,  or  by  the  river-side, 
far  from  any  dwelling.  Thus  cunningly  they 
continued  to  elude  suspicion  for  weeks  and 
months,  till  at  length  it  began  to  be  said  that 
the  burglars  must  have  been  strangers  to  the 
community,  who  had  committed  the  one  act  and 
then  fled  from  the  vicinity. 

But  when  the  harvest  was  garnered,  and 
some  farmers,  having  sold  their  wheat,  were 
popularly  supposed  to  have  money  in  their 
houses,  these  were  entered  and  rifled  night  after 


24    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

night— now  here,  now  there,  at  places  miles 
apart  ;  now  near  Prairieville,  now  five,  ten,  or 
fifteen  miles  away,  either  up  or  down  the  val- 
ley ;  and  anon,  the  villains,  emboldened  by 
success  in  eluding  justice,  ventured  occasion- 
ally even  to  enter  the  town  and  rob  stores  and 
dwellings  where  they  had  any  reason  to  expect 
to  find  rich  booty. 

Excitement  and  indignation  grew  apace  as  it 
became  evident  to  all  that  the  valley  was  in- 
fested by  an  organized  band  of  desperadoes. 

Bangs,  who  was  a  prominent  lawyer  in  Prai- 
rieville, very  generally  feared  and  disliked, 
tried  again  and  again  to  fix  suspicion  upon  Bar- 
ney Nolan  as  one  of  the  gang,  but  without  suc- 
cess, as  Nolan  was  liked  in  the  community,  being 
entirely  inoffensive,  good-tempered,  and  indus- 
trious. 

Though  a  bachelor,  Lawyer  Bangs  owned 
and  lived  in  one  of  the  finest  dwelling-houses  in 
the  town.  He  had  it  very  handsomely  fur- 
nished, too,  especially  his  parlor,  bedroom,  and 
private  office. 

His  sister,  Mrs.  Wiley,  kept  house  for  him, 
and  ruled  with  a  high  hand  over  her  husband, 
an  orphan  niece,  who  was  so  unfortunate  as  to 
have  no  other  home,  and  the  maid  of  all  work  ; 
the  last  named,  however,  being  treated  far  more 
leniently  than  the  other  two,  because  she  might 
go  away  if  too  hardly  dealt  with. 

Mrs.    Wiley    dressed   richly   and   sometimes 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    25 

\\orc  expensive  jewelry.  Lawyer  Bangs  liked 
a  display  of  solid  silver  on  his  table  ;  he  was 
said  to  have  brought  home  a  quantity  of  it 
when  he  returned  from  the  war  ;  how  procured 
was  best  known  to  himself  ;  so  that  there  was 
probably  more  to  tempt  burglars  in  that  house 
than  in  any  other  private  dwelling  of  the  town, 
and  it  stood  upon  the  outskirts,  apparently  more 
unprotected  than  most  ;  yet,  strange  to  say,  it 
was  not  entered.  Phelim  O'Rourke,  it  would 
seem,  had  neglected  to  pay  it  a  nocturnal  visit, 
but  he  had  been  there  frequently  in  broad  day- 
light, closeted  for  an  hour  or  more  with  the 
lawyer  in  his  office. 

But  Phelim 's  name  had  not  been  connected 
with  the  burglaries  ;  and  no  one  denounced  the 
scoundrels  more  loudly  and  indignantly  than 
Bangs — or  the  colonel,  as  he  preferred  to  be 
called,  though  he  had  resigned  his  commission 
with  the  close  of  the  war. 

Both  he  and  Captain  Charlton  had  been  dur- 
ing all  these  weeks  very  frequent  visitors  at 
Lakeside.  The  latter  had  become  a  great  favor- 
ite with  all  the  family  ;  his  coming  was  ever 
hailed  with  delight  by  Ronald  and  the  little 
ones  ;  the  grandmother  invariably  welcomed 
him  with  a  smile  and  cordial  grasp  of  the  hand  ; 
and  though  Miriam's  greeting  was  somewhat 
more  formal  and  distant,  the  brightening  of 
her  eye  at  his  approach  and  the  slight  deepen- 
ing of  the  rose  on  her  cheek  did  not  betoken 


26     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

dislike   or  even   indifference   to   her   brother's 
friend. 

Bangs,  on  the  other  hand,  could  not  but  per- 
ceive that  his  visits  were  barely  tolerated.  The 
children  shunned  him,  and  Miriam  did  the  same 
whenever  she  could  without  absolute  rudeness. 
It  fired  him  with  resentment  and  hatred  tow- 
ard Charlton,  whom  he  looked  upon  as  a 
favored  rival,  and  filled  him  with  a  dogged 
determination  to  win  the  girl  by  fair  means  or 
by  foul  ;  she  should  marry  him— willingly,  if 
she  would  ;  but  her  hand  he  would  have, 
whether  her  heart  went  with  it  or  not. 

Having  come  to  this  determination,  he  forth- 
with set  his  wits  to  work  to  find  means  to  ac- 
complish his  end. 

"  If  I  could  get  a  hold  upon  the  property," 
he  said  to  himself,  "  that  would  be  the  likeliest 
thing  to  bring  her  around.  She's  attached  to 
the  place  ;  still  more  to  that  crippled  brother 
and  the  little  ones,  and  would  sooner  sacrifice 
herselt  than  see  them  come  to  want.  Yes,  that 
will  be  my  very  best  chance.  I  wonder  if  they 
have  the  farm  quite  clear  of  incumbrance,  and  if 
the  title  is  without  a  flaw  ?  I  must  find  out." 

It  was  one  evening,  while  on  his  way  home 
from  a  very  unsatisfactory  call  at  Lakeside,  that 
Bangs  held  this  conversation  with  himself.  He 
had  that  day  engaged  a  man  to  attend  to  his 
horse,  and  as  he  rode  up  to  his  stable  the  fellow 
stepped  out  and  took  the  bridle. 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.    2^ 

Bangs  alighted,  and  saying,  "  Rub  her  down 
well,  O'Rourke,  and  give  her  a  good  feed  of 
oats  when  she  has  cooled  off, ' '  he  walked  into 
the  house. 

The  sound  of  repeated  vigorous  blows,  min- 
gled with  sobs  and  cries  of  pain,  fright  and 
entreaty  in  a  shrill  female  voice,  "  Oh,  Aunt 
Dora,  I  will  be  good  !  I  will  be  good  !"  met 
his  ear  as  he  entered. 

"What's  all  this  about?"  he  growled, 
throwing  open  the  door  of  the  sitting-room, 
where  a  short,  stout,  broad-faced  woman  was 
belaboring  with  a  rattan  a  thin,  pale,  under- 
grown  girl  of  fourteen,  who,  held  fast  in  the 
strong  grasp  of  her  tormentor,  was  vainly 
struggling  to  get  free,  and  as  vainly  endeav- 
oring to  dodge  the  furious  storm  of  blows  rap- 
idly descending  upon  her  shoulders  and  arms. 

"  Oh,  Uncle  Avery,  save  me  !  she's  killing 
me  !"  shrieked  the  girl. 

"  No  interference  ;  she  richly  deserves  all 
she's  getting !"  exclaimed  the  operator  be- 
tween her  set  teeth,  and  turning  on  him  a  pair 
of  light  blue  eyes,  glittering  with  passion,  as  he 
strode  across  the  room  toward  herself  and  the 
victim  of  her  rage. 

"What  has  she  done  now?"  he  demanded. 
"  You  wear  yourself  out  in  beating  her,  Dora  ; 
and  I  don't  see  that  she's  a  whit  the  better  for 
it.  Come,  come  ;  whatever  she's  done  she's  had 
enough  for  this  time,  and  I  want  to  talk  with  you." 


28    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

At  that  Mrs.  Wiley  released  the  girl,  who 
threw  herself,  trembling  and  sobbing,  on  a 
lounge. 

Bangs  glanced  at  her  half  pityingly,  half  con- 
temptuously ;  then  turning  to  his  sister,  "  Were 
you  going  out?"  he  asked.  "  I  see  you  have 
on  your  bonnet  and  shawl." 

"  No  ;  I've  just  come  home  from  church  ; 
where,  by  the  way,  you  ought  to  have  been 
with  me." 

"  Not  I,  indeed,"  he  returned,  sneeringly. 
"  I  have  no  religious  character  to  keep  up  ; 
never  made  any  pretensions  in  that  line  ;  one 
saint  in  the  family  is  sufficient — especially  of  the 
kind  I'm  most  familiar  with." 

"  I  fully  understand  your  insinuations,"  she 
said,  her  eyes  flashing  with  anger;  "but  I 
shall  do  my  duty  by  Mary,  nevertheless.  I 
must  help  her  to  conquer  that  dreadful  temper 
of  hers." 

"  '  Example  is  better  than  precept, '  '  he 
quoted,  significantly  ;  "  but  what  particular 
exhibition  of  temper  had  she  given  to  entitle 
her  to  so  thorough  a  flogging  ? — a  punishment, 
by  the  way,  rather  unsuited,  in  my  humble 
opinion,  to  a  girl  of  her  years." 

"  It's  the  only  thing  that  has  any  effect," 
Mrs.  Wiley  asserted,  with  decision.  "I  re- 
proved her  for  mislaying  her  gloves  (she  had 
laid  them  on  the  table  in  the  parlor  instead  of 
carrying  them  up  to  her  room  and  putting  them 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    29 

in  their  proper  place),  and  you  should  have 
seen  the  scowl  she  gave  me  when  I  spoke  to 
her  about  it." 

"  Well,  well,  enough  said,  Dora  ;  though  it 
strikes  me  that  if  I  professed  to  be  a  saint,  and 
had  just  come  home  from  church,  I'd  feel  called 
upon  to  exercise  some  patience  with  the  faults 
and  follies  of  youth.  But  come  into  my  private 
office,  for,  as  I  said,  I  want  a  little  talk  with 
you  on  a  matter  of  business." 

Having  led  the  way,  and  seen  her  dumpy  fig- 
ure comfortably  ensconced  in  the  large,  leather- 
cushioned  arm-chair,  which  usually  held  his 
own  spare  person,  he  opened  the  conference 
with  an  abrupt  query. 

1  You  are  intimately  acquainted  at  Lakeside, 
are  you  not  ?  and  esteemed  there  as  a  burning 
and  shining  light  in  the  church  ?" 

"  How  should  I  know  whether  they  think  me 
that  or  not?"  she  asked,  reddening  and  tossing 
her  head. 

'  Well,  answer  to  the  best  of  your  knowl- 
edge." 

14  We've  not  visited  much  ;  but  only  because 
we  lived  so  far  apart,  and  are  all  busy  with  our 
own  affairs  and  church  work.  They  know  I'm 
always  active  in  those  things  ;  and  I  presume 
they  have  every  confidence  in  my  piety — as 
most  people  have  who  know  me." 

"But  not  too  well — eh,  Dora?"    he  supple 
mented,  with  a  sneer. 


30    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

"  Avery,  if  you  have  nothing  but  insults  for 
me,  I'll  go  back  to  my  own  part  of  the  house," 
she  said,  rising  with  dignity,  while  her  face 
flushed  hotly  and  her  eyes  sparkled  with  anger. 

"  Nonsense  !  we  understand  each  other, 
Dora,"  he  returned,  with  an  unpleasant  laugh, 
as  he  pushed  her  back  into  her  seat — not  rough- 
ly. "  Stay  and  hear  me  out.  I  think  you'll 
find  it  to  your  advantage  to  do  that  and  some- 
thing besides,  which  I  am  going  to  propose." 

She  yielded,  though  ungraciously  and  with  a 
frowning  face. 

He  told  her  of  his  purpose  to  wed  Miriam 
Heath,  and  the  small  encouragement  he  had  to 
hope  she  would  ever  become  his  bride  of  her 
own  free  will. 

Mrs.  Wiley's  face  grew  darker  as  he  proceed- 
ed. "  Why  do  you  seek  her,  then  ?"  she  asked 
in  impatience.  ' '  She  is  no  such  prize  that— 

"  Pardon  me,  madam,  if  I  venture  to  differ 
from  you  there,"  he  interrupted,  drawing  him- 
self up  with  a  haughty  air.  "  Miriam  Heath  is 
an  uncommonly  fine  girl  in  both  looks  and  char- 
acter. Where,  let  me  ask,  could  you  find  an- 
other who  could  and  would  do  what  she  has 
done — carry  on  a  farm  and  support  a  family  in 
comfort  ?" 

"  I  don't  see  what  you  want  to  marry  for  ; 
you  are  much  better  off  as  you  are,"  remarked 
his  sister,  ignoiing  his  query. 

"  There,  again,  your  opinion  and  mine  fail  to 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    31 

coincide.  I  tell  you,  I  am  determined  to  make 
Miriam  Heath  my  wife — willingly,  if  possible  ; 
otherwise  unwillingly." 

"  I  don't  see  how  you  can  force  her  into  it." 

"  I  think  I  do  ;  and  I  want  your  help  in  car- 
rying out  my  scheme."  He  then  unfolded  his 
plans,  and  told  her  her  part  must  be  to  culti- 
vate the  acquaintance  of  the  family,  and  when 
an  opportunity  offered  to  worm  out  of  Mrs. 
Heath  the  desired  information.  "  Remember, 
she  is  the  one,"  he  said  in  conclusion;  "the 
girl  and  Ronald  would  be  too  sharp  to  give  it ; 
the  children  are  too  young  to  know  anything 
about  such  matters  ;  but  the  old  lady,  of  course, 
knows  everything  ;  and  she  is  very  simple- 
hearted,  frank,  and  doubtless  has  entire  confi- 
dence in  you." 

Mrs.  Wiley  demurred  ;  was  not  sure  it  would 
be  quite  right  to  do  what  he  wished — so  she 
said  ;  but  the  truth  of  the  matter  was  that  she 
did  not  want  him  to  marry  ;  for  should  he  re- 
main single,  and  she  outlive  him,  she  would  be 
his  natural  heir. 

He  read  her  motives,  and  set  them  aside  by 
remarking  that  if  he  could  get  the  desired  hold 
upon  Miriam,  and  she  refuse  in  spite  of  all  to 
give  him  her  hand,  he  would  add  Lakeside  to 
his  property. 

The  pale  blue  eyes  opposite  him  brightened 
visibly.  "  And  we  might  move  out  there,"  she 
observed,  with  ill-concealed  eagerness.  "It's  a 


32     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

lovely  place.  I  have  always  thought  the  Heaths 
very  fortunate  in  owning  it.  Well,  Avery, 
every  one  must  look  after  his  own  interests. 
I'll  do  as  you  wish." 

"  That's  right,  Dora,"  he  returned  with  satis- 
faction ;  "  but  let  me  caution  you  not  to  broach 
the  subject  too  soon,  lest  the  old  lady  should 
think  you  prying  and  be  put  upon  her  guard." 

"You  may  trust  me  to  play  my  cards  skil- 
fully," she  returned,  bridling. 

"  And  not  to  let  the  grass  grow  under  your 
feet?  Love  is  impatient,  you  know." 

"  Greed  also,"  she  added,  with  a  malicious 
smile.  "  No  ;  there  shall  be  no  unnecessary 
delay.  Lend  me  Phelim  and  the  horse  and 
buggy  to-morrow,  and  I'll  drive  over  and  open 
proceedings  by  making  a  call." 

"  They  are  all  at  your  service  whenever 
wanted  for  that  purpose.  You'll  do,  Dora." 

Mrs.  Wiley  drove  over  to  Lakeside  the  next 
afternoon.  It  was  a  bleak  November  day,  and 
as  she  alighted  at  the  gate  Phelim  growled  out 
a  protest  against ' '  bein'  left  to  sit  waitin'  out 
here  in  the  cowld." 

"  Keep  yourself  warm  by  exercise,"  she  said, 
sharply.  "  You  can  fasten  the  horse,  and  pace 
back  and  forth  in  the  path  along  the  fence  side 
there." 

Bertie  opened  the  door  in  answer  to  her  ring, 
and  ushered  her  into  the  sitting-room,  where 
Ronald,  reclining  in  a  large  arm-chair,  was 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    33 

reading  aloud  to  his  grandmother,  who  sat 
placidly  knitting  by  his  side.  Miriam  was  not 
at  home,  as  Mrs.-  Wiley  knew,  having  passed 
her  in  the  town. 

The  old  lady  rose  with  a  polite  greeting  to 
the  visitor,  while  Bertie  set  a  chair  for  her, 
then  returned  to  his  play — helping  Olive  to 
build  block  houses  in  a  corner  of  the  room. 

Mrs.  Wiley  was  very  sweet  and  condescend- 
ing (how  Ronald  detested  her  for  that  last !), 
made  a  few  commonplace  remarks  on  the 
weather  and  the  crops,  then  condoled  with  the 
lad  on  his  protracted  sufferings,  and  with  Mrs. 
Heath  because  of  the  care  that  devolved  upon 
her  in  the  rearing  of  her  grandchildren. 

'  I  know  how  to  sympathize  with  you,"  she 
sighed,  "  having  burdened  myself  with  the 
bringing  up  of  an  orphan  niece.  It  is  a  great 
responsibility.  I  feel  that  she  can  never  repay 
me  for  all  I  am  doing  for  her  ;  but  I  look  to 
the  Lord  for  my  reward." 

"  And  I  am  sure,  if  you  are  doing  it  for  His 
sake,  He  will  not  leave  you  unrewarded,"  re- 
turned the  old  lady,  her  eyes  glistening.  "  But, 
indeed,  I  cannot  rate  so  highly  my  poor  ser- 
vices to  my  son's  children,  and  shall  feel  amply 
recompensed  if  they  grow  up  to  be  good  and 
useful  members  of  society.  In  fact,  Mrs. 
Wiley,  they  repay  me  now  by  their  dutiful  and 
affectionate  behavior." 

"  Oh,  grandma,  you  put  too  low  an  estimate 


34     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

upon  your  good  deeds  !"  remarked  Ronald,  half 
playfully,  half  tenderly. 

"  Child,  I  have  never  done  any  worth  the 
name,"  she  returned,  with  unaffected  humility. 

Mrs.  Wiley  changed  the  subject.  Turning 
to  Ronald,  she  spoke  in  glowing  terms  of  the 
debt  of  gratitude  owed  by  the  country  to  her 
"  brave  boys  in  blue/'  the  noble  fellows  who 
had  fought  and  bled  to  save  the  Union  (she 
must  say  it,  even  though  her  dear  brother 
Avery  was  one  of  them),  and  she  would  try  to 
do  a  little  toward  cancelling  her  own  share  of 
the  obligation  to  Ronald  by  sending  over  some 
little  delicacy  now  and  then  to  tempt  his  sickly 
appetite  ;  she  was  reckoned  a  good  cook — she 
did  not  say  it  boastingiy — though,  of  course, 
not  better  than  his  own  grandmother  and  sister  ; 
but  something  sent  in  from  a  neighbor's  was 
appreciated  by  an  invalid  just  because  it  came 
from  abroad. 

Ronald  thanked  her,  not  too  warmly,  and 
added  that  he  could  not  have  her  put  herself  to 
so  much  trouble  ;  his  appetite  was  not  bad,  and 
home  cooking  really  suited  him  better  than  any 
other. 

At  that  her  cheek  flushed,  and  for  an  instant 
she  looked  ill  pleased  ;  then  laughing  lightly, 
she  remarked  that  no  one  ought  to  blame  him 
for  his  partiality  to  those  who  were  so  very 
near  and  dear.  Yet,  as  it  was  often  desirable 
and  beneficial  to  vary  the  diet,  she  would  ven- 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    35 

ture  to  do  as  she  had  proposed.  It  would  be 
no  trouble  at  all  ;  on  the  contrary,  a  real  pleas- 
ure, for  she  loved  to  do  good  and  to  give. 

"  But  we  of  this  family  are  not  in  need,  mad- 
am," he  returned,  his  tone  slightly  sarcastic, 
44  and  your  alms  were  better  bestowed  upon 
those  who  are." 

"  Oh,  fie  !  you  must  not  be  so  proud,"  she 
said,  adopting  a  sportive  tone,  though  evidently 
with  an  effort.  '  You  are  a  reader,  I  see,"  she 
added,  glancing  at  the  book  he  had  laid  aside 
on  her  entrance.  '  I  hope  you  don't  neglect 
your  Bible  ?" 

44  No,  he  does  not,"  said  his  grandmother, 
answering  for  him  ;  "  Ronald  is  a  good  boy." 

44  I  rejoice  to  hear  it,"  was  the  gracious  re- 
joinder, "  and  I  shall  do  myself  the  pleasure  of 
bringing  him  some  good  books,  of  which  I  keep 
a  supply  constantly  on  hand  on  purpose  to  lend 
or  give  where  I  think  they  may  prove  useful." 

Ronald  could  not  bring  himself  to  thank  her  ; 
but  his  grandmother  did  it  for  him,  and  with  a 
parting  nod  and  smile,  and  an  injunction  to 
him  to  take  care  of  himself  and  get  well  as  fast 
as  possible,  the  visitor  took  her  departure. 

'  What  a  good  woman  she  is  !"  Mrs.  Heath 
said,  coming  back  from  seeing  her  off.  4  What 
an  earnest,  faithful,  working  Christian  !  always 
at  the  prayer-meeting,  she  tells  me  ;  always 
engaged  heart  and  soul  in  some  good  work.  I 
wish  I  were  more  like  her,"  and  she  sighed  in- 


36     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

voluntarily  as  she  resumed  her  knitting  and  her 
rocker  by  the  side  of  her  boy. 

"  And  I  do  not,  grandma,"  he  returned,  with 
warmth  ;  "  you  would  not  be  half  so  dear  and 
lovable  as  you  are." 

"  My  dear  boy,  how  can  you  say  it?"  she 
asked,  in  mild  surprise. 

"  Grandma,  doesn't  the  Bible  say  it  is  not  he 
that  commendeth  himself  who  is  approved,  but 
whom  the  Lord  commendeth  ?  And  why  does 
that  woman  put  on  such  airs  of  condescension 
toward  you  ?  She  is  not  your  superior  in  any 
respect ;  no,  nor  half  your  equal  in  very  many." 


CHAPTER  V. 

A  LITTLE  crowd,  mostly  men,  were  gath- 
ered about  the  depot  door  to  watch  the 
arrival  of  the  westward-bound  evening  train. 
A  few  yards  farther  from  the  track,  Miriam 
Heath,  seated  in  a  buggy,  had  reined  in  her 
horse  and  was  quietly  waiting.  At  the  first 
sound  of  the  whistle,  instantly  followed  by 
the  rush  and  roar  of  the  train,  the  animal 
started  aside,  snorting,  and  rolling  his  eyes 
wildly. 

"  Shall  I  take  his  head,  miss  ?"  asked  a  voice 
in  a  rich  Irish  brogue,  and  Phelim  O'Rourke, 
hurrying  from  Bangs's  stable  to  join  the  wait- 
ing throng,  sprang  hastily  forward  and  seized 
the  bridle-rein. 

"  No  ;  I  can  hold  him  ;  he  will  be  quiet 
enough  as  soon  as  he  sees  what  it  is,"  Miriam 
answered  shortly,  not  overpleased  at  the  offi- 
ciousness  of  the  man. 

He  stepped  away  a  few  paces  and  regarded 
her  with  a  malignant  scowl. 

Her  words  were  made  good  almost  before 
they  had  left  her  lips.  The  train  swept  into 
sight,  and  her  horse  stood  quiet  as  a  lamb,  while 
the  engine  puffed,  snorted,  and  blew  off  steam, 


38     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

and  the  passengers  poured  out  and  scattered 
themselves  hither  and  thither. 
^  A  middle-aged  man,  with  a  sober,  honest 
Scotch  face,  in  decent  farmer  dress,  and  carry- 
ing a  satchel  in  his  hand,  was  among  the  first  to 
alight. 

'  You're  a  gude  leddy,  as  weel's  a  bonny  ane, 
Miss  Miriam,"  he  said,  hurrying  toward  her. 
"  I'm  no  ill  pleased  to  forego  the  pleasure  o'  a 
tramp  through  the  cauld  and  ower  the  frozen, 
rough  roads." 

"  I  thought  you  would  come  back  tired, 
Sandy,"  she  returned,  resigning  the  reins  to 
him  as  he  took  the  seat  by  her  side,  having  al- 
ready bestowed  his  satchel  in  the  bottom  of  the 
buggy.  "  Besides,  it  will  be  safer,  in  case—" 

'  Wait  a  wee,  Miss  Miriam,"  he  interrupted, 
in  an  undertone.  "  Along  wi'  ye  !  lively  now, 
Robin  !"  to  the  horse,  who  at  once  set  off  at  a 
brisk  trot  in  the  direction  of  home. 

O'Rourke  had  watched  the  little  scene  with  a 
sort  of  covert  eagerness,  and  as  the  buggy 
whirled  away  up  the  road  his  eyes  followed  it 
with  a  look  of  lurking  triumph  and  greed. 

Neither  of  its  occupants  spoke  again  till  quite 
clear  of  the  town.  Then,  having  first  sent  a 
cautious  glance  from  side  to  side,  Sandy,  again 
speaking  in  a  low  key,  as  if  fearful  of  being 
overheard,  said  :  "  It's  gude  news  I  bring  ye, 
Miss  Miriam  ;  by  the  blessing  o'  Providence 
the  wheat  sold  uncommon  weel,  and  they  paid 


HIE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    39 

doon  ;  so  that  I  hae  a  matter  o'  $1500  for  ye — a 
trifle  o'  odd  dollars  ower  that." 

14  Oh,  Sandy,  that  is  good  !"  she  cried,  joy- 
ously. "  But  I  wish  it  were  safe  in  the  bank. 
If  we  could  only  have  got  it  here  in  time  !" 

4  Three  hours  sooner.  I  wish  it  could  have 
been  done,  Miss  Miriam.  But  we'll  try  to  tak' 
care  o't  the  night,  and  deposit  it  betimes  i'  the 
morn." 

"  Oh,  if  we  only  can,  Sandy  !  Just  think  ; 
we  shall  be  able  at  once  to  pay  off  the  interest 
on  the  mortgage  and  half  the  principal  ;  and 
another  such  year  will  give  us  the  place  entire- 
ly free  from  incumbrance,"  she  said,  her  eyes 
shining. 

Sandy  McAllister  was  her  right-hand  man  on 
the  farm,  working  with  steady  industry  for 
day's  wages  ;  her  true  and  trusted  friend  as 
well,  knowing  her  affairs  almost  as  intimately 
as  she  did  herself,  and  taking  a  fatherly  interest 
in  her  success  and  the  prosperity  of  the  whole 
family. 

4  Yes  ;  what's  ower  and  abune  will  be  suffi- 
cient, wi'  what  the  potatoes,  and  cabbage,  and 
a*  the  ither  crops  o'  vegetables,  and  the  fruits 
will  bring  in,  to  keep  the  pot  boilin'  till  anither 
harvest,"  he  remarked,  reflectively.  44  Ye'll 
win  through,  Miss  Miriam  ;  there's  promises  to 
the  widow  and  the  fatherless,  and  the  Lord's 
aye  faithful  to  His  word." 

It  was  nearly  dark  when  they  reached  Lake- 


40     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY. 

side,  but  there  was  light  and  warmth  in  its 
cosey  sitting-room,  whither  Miriam  carried  the 
satchel,  while  Sandy  drove  around  to  the  stable 
and  put  up  the  horse. 

The  grandmother  was  dishing  up  the  supper, 
Ronald  keeping  the  little  ones  quiet  with  a 
story  ;  but  on  Miriam's  entrance  they  left  him, 
and  ran  to  meet  her  with  a  shout  of  joy. 

"  Oh,  sister,  we're  so  glad  you've  come 
home  !  We  were  'fraid  you'd  got  lost." 

"Were  you?"  she  said,  stooping  to  caress 
them  in  turn. 

"  Yes  ;  we  were  beginning  to  be  uneasy  ;  it 
was  growing  so  dark,"  said  her  grandmother, 
filling  the  teapot  and  setting  it  on  the  table. 
"  Come  now,  dears,  tea  is  ready." 

"  I  believe  the  train  was  a  few  minutes  be- 
hind time,"  Miriam  answered.  "  Grandmoth- 
er," and  putting  an  arm  round  the  old  lady's 
neck,  she  whispered  in  her  ear  something  that 
brought  a  pleased,  thankful  look  into  the  placid 
face. 

Then  going  to  the  side  of  Ronald's  easy-chair, 
"  The  wheat  sold  well  ;  so  well  that  we  shall 
be  able  to  pay  the  interest  on  the  mortgage  and 
hall  the  principal,"  she  said,  in  a  low,  joyous 
tone,  leaning  over  him,  her  eyes  shining  and 
her  cheeks  dimpling  with  a  glad  smile. 

"  That  is  good  news  indeed  !"  he  cried,  his 
face  reflecting  the  brightness  of  hers.  "  If  we 
continue  to  prosper  so,  we'll  have  the  place 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  ll'll.D  AV/'A/v'   VALLEY.    41 

clear  in  another  year  ;  also,  I  trust  I  may  be 
able  by  that  time  to  relieve  you  of  at  least  a 
part  of  the  burden  of  supporting  the  family." 

44  Ah,  it  takes  two  to  make  a  bargain  ;  and  I 
may  not  be  willing  to  resign  my  sceptre,"  she 
answered,  gayly,  as  she  threw  off  bonnet  and 
shawl  and  took  her  seat  with  the  rest  at  the 
table. 

The  meal  was  enlivened  by  cheerful  chat, 
though  the  same  anxious  thought  pressed  more 
or  less  heavily  upon  the  heart  of  each  of  the 
elders  of  the  party.  No  one  gave  it  utterance 
till  the  little  ones  were  quiet  in  their  nest  ;  then, 
with  every  door  locked  and  bolted,  every  shut- 
ter closed  and  barred,  and  the  curtains  drawn, 
the  four  (Sandy  being  always  taken  into  their 
counsels)  drew  together  and  examined  the  con- 
tents of  the  satchel. 

44  A  thousand-dollar  bill  !"  Ronald  said,  turn- 
ing it  about  in  his  hands,  44  and  marked  with 
some  one's  initials.  Well,  if  the  burglars  should 
rob  us  of  it  they  would  hardly  dare  venture  to 
use  it." 

4  True,  sir,"  said  Sandy;  "an*  what's  to 
hinder  us  frae  spoilin'  these  ither  anes  for  their 
use  in  the  same  way  ?  Here's  four  one-hun- 
dred-dollar notes,  one  fifty,  and  the  rest  in  fives, 
tens,  and  siller." 

14  A  good  idea,"  assented  Ronald.  4<  Mirry, 
please  bring  pen  and  ink." 

The  marking  was  done,  and  they  were  dis- 


42     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

cussing  the  probabilities  of  a  visit  from  the 
burglars  infesting  the  country,  and  the  best  dis- 
position to  be  made  of  the  money  for  the  night, 
when  a  loud  knocking  at  the  kitchen  door 
startled  them  and  set  the  hearts  of  the  two 
ladies  to  beating  almost  audibly.  Sandy  rose 
to  answer  it,  while  Miriam  hastily  concealed 
the  notes  in  the  bosom  of  her  dress. 

"  Mirry,"  whispered  Ronald,  "  give  them  up 
rather  than  suffer  yourself  to  be  roughly  han- 
dled. Sandy,  don't  open  the  door  till  you 
know  who  is  there." 

"  Surely  not,  sir,"  returned  the  man,  as  he 
left  the  room,  carefully  closing  the  door  behind 
him. 

The  others  sat  silent,  straining  their  ears  to 
hear. 

Sandy  held  a  moment's  parley  with  some 
one  ;  then  the  bolt  was  withdrawn,  and  the 
tones  of  a  female  voice,  speaking  with  a  rich 
Irish  brogue,  penetrated  to  the  inner  room. 

'  Nora  !"  exclaimed  Miriam,  in  a  tone  of  relief . 

"A  friend  instead  of  an  enemy,  as  we 
feared,"  added  Mrs.  Heath. 

They  had  full  confidence  in  Nora's  honesty 
and  good  will  ;  scarcely  less  in  those  of  Barney. 

"  But  she  may  come  to  warn  us  of  danger," 
said  Ronald,  in  a  low  tone  of  great  anxiety. 

The  others  had  not  thought  of  that.  But 
Sandy  was  ushering  Nora  into  the  room. 

"  Good  avenin'  till  yees,  leddies   an'  Misther 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY-    43 

Ronald,  sor,"  she  said,  dropping  a  courtesy  ; 
"  an'  I  ax  yer  pardons  fer  throublin'  yees  this 
toime  o'  noight  ;  but  it's  all  along  o'  Barney 
an'  me  a  thinkin'  yees  moight  be  a  thrifle  onaisy 
in  yer  moinds,  considerin*  there's  so  manny 
thaves  about,  an'  Misther  McAllisther  jist 
home  from  the  city,  an'  maybe  suspected  o' 
bringin'  money  wid  him,  an'  the  bank  closed  so 
he  couldn't  put  it  there  for  safe  kapin'.  An* 
Barney" — she  drew  nearer,  glanced  cautiously 
around,  and  lowered  her  voice  to  a  loud  whis- 
per—"he  says,  says  he,  'Nora,  I'm  onaisy 
about  Miss  Miriam  and  the  rest,  for  I  see  that 
raskil  Phalim  O'Rourke  a  prowlin'  round  while 
I  was  cuttin'  wood  in  the  back  yarrud  this 
afthernoon.  He'd  brought  Bangs's  sisther  in 
the  buggy,  an'  while  she  was  intil  the  house 
talkin'  wid  the  ould  lady,  he  was  makin'  hisself 
acquainted  wid  the  premisis.  An'  I'll  be  bound 
it  wasn't  fer  no  good,  nayther. '  ' 

"  Is  he  one  of  the  burglars  ?"  asked  Miriam, 
paling  visibly. 

'  Barney  an'  me  cudn't  jist  say  that  same, 
Miss  Mirry  ;  but  it's  a  thafe  he  was  in  the  war  ; 
an'  he's  makin'  his  ould  fayther  an'  mither 
moighty  comfortable  in  a  nice  little  house  in 
the  town,  that  he's  bought  an'  paid  fer,  an'  no- 
body knows  where  the  money  come  from  ;  fer 
how  cud  the  spalpeen  mak'  the  loike  o'  that 
same  workin'  round  fer  the  farmers  an'  takin' 
care  o'  Bangs's  horse  ?" 


44     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

"  It  certainly  looks  suspicious,"  said  Ronald  ; 
"  but  what  is  it  you  have  to  propose,  Nora  ?" 

"  Jist  this,  sor  ;  that  if  it's  agrayable  till  the 
leddies  an'  yersilf,  and  wull  make  yees  anny 
aisier  in  yer  moinds,  Barney'll  come  an'  help 
guard  the  house  till  to-morrow  mornin',  an' 
not  lave  at  all  at  all  till  the  sun's  up  an'  shinin'." 

"That  is  very  kind,"  said  Miriam;  "but 
what  would  become  of  you  and  the  children  if 
the  burglars  should  take  a  fancy  to  pay  you  a 
visit?" 

"  An'  sure,  miss,  what  would  they  be  afther 
in  our  poor  bit  of  a  hut?"  laughed  Nora. 
"  There  ain't  nothin'  there  to  stale,  barnn'  me 
an'  the  childer." 

The  kind  proposal  was  acceded  to  with  hearty 

thanks.     Nora,  rejecting  McAllister's  proffered 

.services  as  escort,  hastened  away,  and  in  a  few 

minutes  Barney  presented  himself  in  their  midst. 

The  intervening  time  had  been  employed  by 
them  in  disposing  of  the  money  for  the  night. 
Ronald  would  have  had  it  laid  under  his  pil- 
low ;  but  Miriam  entered  an  indignant  protest. 

"  What,"  she  asked,  "  was  the  money  worth 
in  comparison  with  his  life  ?  That  should  not 
be  risked  by  having  the  filthy  lucre  in  the  same 
room  with  him." 

"  The  money  is  worth  a  great  deal  as  the 
means  of  sustaining  all  our  lives,"  Ronald  an- 
swered, quietly  ;  "  but  since  you  reject  my 
plan,  what  other  have  you  to  offer  ?" 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    45 

44  I  will  take  the  smaller  notes  and  conceal 
them  upstairs.  If  they  come  and  find  the  larger 
ones,  they  will  probably  think  that  is  all  and 
look  no  farther  ;  so  none  of  our  lives  will  be 
endangered,  and  the  notes,  being  marked,  may 
be  recovered." 

4  Yes,"  the  grandmother  said  ;  4<  we  will  put 
them  in  the  parlor,  and  in  not  too  unlikely  a 
place,  lest  they  should  come  to  our  bedrooms 
in  search  of  them,  and  if  we  happen  to  wake, 
kill  us  to  keep  us  from  telling  of  them,  and  so 
bringing  them  to  justice." 

These  suggestions  were  immediately  carried 
out.  Miriam  went  into  the  parlor,  without  a 
light,  fearing  that  even  a  slight  gleam  might 
furnish  a  clew  to  a  lurking  foe,  put  the  bank- 
notes into  a  little  chimney  cupboard,  locked  it, 
and  took  away  the  key. 

They  retired  early,  as  was  their  custom. 
Mrs.  Heath,  Miriam,  and  the  two  children 
slept  upstairs  ;  but  Ronald's  bedroom  was  on 
the  ground  floor,  opening  into  the  sitting-room 
where  they  had  passed  the  evening. 

In  this  last  Sandy  and  Barney  took  up  their 
quarters  for  the  night,  each  armed  with  a  load- 
ed revolver.  It  had  been  agreed  that  each 
should  take  his  turn  in  watching  while  the  other 
slept,  and  that  upon  any  sound  of  approaching 
footsteps,  or  an  attempt  of  any  one  outside  to 
open  window  or  door,  the  sleeper  should  be  in- 
stantly roused  by  his  companion. 


46     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

McAllister  took  the  first  watch,  keeping  him- 
self awake  with  a  book.  Shortly  after  one 
o'clock  he  roused  Barney,  shaking  him  some- 
what roughly,  and  saying  in  an  undertone, 
"  Come,  me  mon  ;  it's  my  turn  the  noo  ;  and 
richt  glad  I  am,  for  I  can  scarce  keep  my  een 
open  ony  langer." 

They  exchanged  places.  Sandy  began  to 
snore  the  moment  he  had  stretched  himself 
upon  the  lounge  from  which  Barney  had  just 
risen  ;  while  the  latter,  weary  with  a  hard  day's 
work,  and  heavy  with  sleep,  yawned  in  his 
chair,  shook  himself,  sat  erect,  and  stretched 
his  eyes  wide  open  with  a  determined  air,  then 
rose  and  paced  the  room,  but  with  a  stealthy 
tread,  lest  he  should  disturb  Ronald. 

He  meant  to  be  faithful  to  his  trust,  had  no 
mind  to  be  conquered  by  sleep,  but  fatigue 
presently  sent  him  back  to  his  chair  ;  half  un- 
consciously his  head  dropped  upon  the  table, 
his  eyes  closed,  and  in  another  moment  he  was 
wrapped  in  profound  slumber. 

The  clock  on  the  mantel  struck  two,  but  both 
he  and  his  fellow-watcher  remained  deaf  to  the 
sound.  The  hands  moved  steadily  on  and 
pointed  to  ten  minutes  of  three,  as  something — 
he  did  not  know  what — startled  and  awoke  him. 

He  sat  up  and  listened.  There  was  a  slight 
noise — where  ?  in  the  parlor  ?  Yes  ;  as  of  some 
one  stepping  cautiously  across  the  floor. 

Barney  sprang  to  his  feet,  dealt  McAllister  a 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.    47 

smart  blow  to  rouse  him,  seized  a  pistol,  threw 
open  the  door  into  the  hall,  and  rushed  across 
into  the  parlor. 

As  he  did  so  a  man  dashed  past  him  to  one  of 
the  front  windows,  which  was  open,  as  Barney 
at  once  perceived  by  the  glimmer  of  light  from 
the  snow  outside  and  the  draught  of  cold  air. 

He  sprang  after  the  retreating  figure  and 
grasped  it  about  the  waist  as  it  gained  the  win- 
dow-sill. 

But  with  a  desperate  effort,  and  a  blow  in  the 
face  that  felled  Nolan  to  the  floor,  the  burglar 
freed  himself,  and  springing  lightly  to  the 
ground,  sped  away  like  the  wind. 

Barney  was  up  in  an  instant  and  in  hot  pur- 
suit, crying  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  Stop 
thafe  !  stop  thafe  !" 

Sandy,  too,  taking  a  flying  leap  through  the 
window,  joined  in  the  race,  echoing  the  cry 
with  all  the  strength  of  his  lungs,  but  with  the 
Scotch  accent  instead  of  the  Irish  brogue. 

But  the  burglar,  being  younger  and  fleeter  of 
foot  than  they,  and  having  the  start  of  them, 
soon  distanced  their  pursuit  ;  and  uncertain 
which  direction  he  had  taken,  and  bethinking 
themselves  of  the  defenceless  state  of  those  left 
behind  at  Lakeside,  should  accomplices  of  the 
fleeing  scoundrel  be  lingering  about,  they  made 
haste  to  return. 

They  found  Ronald  and  the  ladies  awake  and 
in  great  anxiety  and  alarm. 


48     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

An  examination  of  the  parlor  at  once  dis- 
closed the  fact  that  the  cupboard  door  had  been 
opened  with  a  skeleton  key  and  the  money 
taken.  Its  loss  was  a  great  blow  to  the  family, 
yet  the  fact  that  the  notes  were  marked  gave 
them  some  hope  of  their  final  recovery. 

"  I  dinna  see  ony  evidence  that  the  mon  had 
accomplices,"  remarked  McAllister,  when  a 
thorough  search  of  the  house  had  been  made. 

"  The  tracks  in  the  snow  will  settle  that  ques- 
tion when  daylight  comes  to  enable  us  to  see 
them,"  said  Ronald. 

"  Na,  na,  sir  ;  it's  snowin'  fast  the  noo,  and 
they'll  be  all  covered  up  brawly  by  that,"  re- 
sponded McAllister. 

' '  Then  take  a  lantern  and  look  for  them  at 
once,"  Miriam  said,  speaking  with  energy  and 
decision. 

"  An'  so  we  wull  !  Sure,  thin,  the  young 
misthress  is  the  smartest  o'  the  lot  o'  us  all !" 
cried  Barney,  seizing  a  light  and  leading  the 
way,  McAllister  following. 

"Well?"  Ronald  asked,  in  an  excited  tone, 
as  they  re-entered  the  room. 

"  Twas  as  I  surmised,  sir  ;  the  mon  came  his 
lane,"  said  McAllister. 

"  An'  it's  mesilf  that  cud  a' most  tak'  me  oath 
that  'twas  Phalim  O'Rourke,"  added  Barney, 
setting  down  the  light,  and  turning  from  one  to 
another  of  the  little  group  in  strong  excite- 
ment. "  I  cudn't  see  his  face  that  plain,  to  be 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    49 

sure,  fer  the  darkness,  but  I  got  a  glimpse  o't ; 
and  the  soize  o'  the  raskil  was  as  loike  Phalim 
as  the  twin  brother  o*  'im." 

"And  who  is  Phelim  O'Rourke?"  asked 
Miriam.  "  Nora  spoke  of  him,  but  I  don't  re- 
member to  have  heard  of  him  before." 

"  Sure,  Miss  Miriam,  he's  a  returned  sojer  as 
wurruks  fer  Lawyer  Bangs — takin'  care  o'  his 
horse  an'  doin'  anny  ither  chores  wanted  in  the 
fam'ly.  An'  it's  mesilf  that  niver  loiked  the 
look  o'  him,  let  alone  that  he  didn't  git  the  best 
o'  characters  from  annybody  in  the  rigiment ; 
in  fact,  miss,  he  had  the  name  o'  bein'  as  big  a 
thafe  as  the  nixt  one." 

"  Are  you  willing  to  repeat  what  you  have 
just  said  before  a  magistrate  ?"  asked  Ronald. 

14  Sure,  sor  ;  an'  fer  what  wouldn't  I  ?" 

"  It  will  probably  anger  Bangs,  as  O'Rourke 
is  in  his  employ." 

"  Sorra  a  bit  wad  I  care  fer  that  same,  sor," 
returned  Barney,  with  a  scornful  laugh,  "  bar- 
rin'  the  thrifle  o'  plisure  it  moight  affoord  me," 
he  added,  with  a  gleam  of  fun  in  his  eye. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

BEFORE  the  sun  was  an  hour  high  Prairie- 
ville  was  greatly  excited  over  the  news  of 
the  burglary  at  Lakeside  and  the  subsequent 
arrest  of  O'Rourke  on  suspicion  of  having  been 
concerned  in  it. 

He  was,  however,  speedily  at  large  again, 
Nolan  not  being  able  to  swear  positively  to  his 
identity,  and  Colonel  Bangs  coming  forward 
with  an  alibi  in  his  favor.  He  made  oath  that 
O'Rourke  had  been  with  him  in  his  private 
office  at  the  precise  time  when  he  was  sup- 
posed to  have  been  at  Lakeside  taking  the 
money  from  the  parlor  cupboard. 

He  (Bangs)  had  had  a  fit  of  wakefulness,  and 
thinking  it  must  be  time  to  rise,  had  summoned 
Phelim  to  light  a  fire  in  the  office.  On  looking 
at  his  watch,  when  Phelim  came  in  answer  to 
the  summons,  he  had  found  it  barely  three 
o'clock.  Still,  feeling  sure  he  should  not  be 
able  to  sleep  again,  he  had  his  order  carried 
out.  The  fire  was  slow  to  burn,  and  Phelim 
did  not  leave  the  room  till  the  clock  had  struck 
four— long  after  McAllister  and  Nolan  had 
given  up  their  pursuit  of  the  burglar  and  re- 
turned to  Lakeside. 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    51 

This  testimony,  ot  course,  completely  exoner- 
ated O'Rourke,  unless  upon  the  unlikely  sup- 
position that  Lawyer  Bangs  was  perjuring  him- 
self to  shield  one  in  whom  he  had  no  greater 
interest  than  that  of  a  master  in  his  servant. 
Barney  Nolan  was,  perhaps,  the  only  person 
who  still  indulged  strong  suspicions  against 
Phelim. 

There  was  a  grain  of  truth  in  the  lawyer's 
story.  He  had  called  Phelim  from  his  bed  be- 
tween two  and  three  o'clock  that  morning,  but 
it  was  by  an  arrangement  entered  into  the  pre- 
vious evening,  during  a  private  interview  held 
shortly  after  O'Rourke's  return  from  the  depot ; 
and  without  waiting  to  light  a  fire  at  all  the 
Irishman  had  set  out  on  his  evil  errand. 

After  making  good  his  escape  from  his  pur- 
suers (McAllister  and  Nolan)  he  gained  Bangs's 
residence  by  a  circuitous  route,  and,  under 
cover  of  the  darkness,  crept  cautiously  in  at  a 
back  door,  opened  for  him  by  the  lawyer  him- 
self, who  had  a  few  moments  before  taken  his 
stand  beside  it,  and  was  waiting  there,  listening 
intently  for  the  expected  sound  of  approaching 
footsteps. 

"  Ah,  at  last !"  he  exclaimed,  half  under  his 
breath,  as  his  accomplice  stepped  in.  "  Don't 
breathe  so  loud  if  you  can  help  it ;  some  one 
may  be  listening.  This  way — into  the  office." 

They  groped  their  way  through  the  dark  pas- 
sage into  a  room  beyond,  dimly  lighted  by  a 


52     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

smouldering  fire.     Bangs  struck  a  match  and 
lighted  a  lamp. 

4  Won't  it  shine  out  intil  the  street,  sor  ?" 
asked  Phelim,  glancing  apprehensively  around 
at  the  windows. 

"No;  can't  you  see  that  the  shutters  are 
closed  and  the  blinds  drawn  down  ?  Now,  what 
success  ?  I  was  never  on  any  former  occasion 
so  anxious  to  have  you  succeed." 

4  I  s'pose  not,  sor,  seein'  as  there's  on'y  us 
two  to  divide  the  plunder  this  toime.  An'  it's 
mesilf  as  should  pocket  the  lion's  share,  I'm  a 
thinkin',  seein'  as  yer  honor  kep'  safe  under 
shelter  here,  while  I  done  all  the  wurruk  an' 
tukalltheresk." 

"  Ah,  but  if  suspicion  fastens  upon  you,  I'm 
the  man  to  save  you  from  the  clutches  of  the 
law  !  But  here,  man,  let's  see  what  the  spoil 
amounts  to  before  we  quarrel  over  the  divi- 
sion." 

At  that  Phelim  drew  a  little  package  from 
his  breast-pocket  and  opened  it,  Bangs  looking 
on  with  eagle-eyed  watchfulness  and  suspicion. 

"  Ah,  what's  that  ?  a  thousand-dollar  note  !" 
he  exclaimed,  clutching  eagerly  at  it. 

"  Half's  moine,  sor  ;  don't  ye  forgit  that  !" 
growled  Phelim,  keeping  fast  hold  of  one  end. 

'  Tut,  man  !  it's  marked— do  you  see  ?— and 
won't  be  of  any  use  to  either  of  us,"  grunted 
Bangs,  letting  go  of  the  note  in  disgust. 

"Eh!     What   difference   does   that  make?" 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   I' ALLEY.    53 

queried  Phelim,  examining  it  critically  and  with 
a  crestfallen  air. 

"All  the  difference  in  the  world;  for,  of 
course,  we  couldn't  pass  it  without  exposing 
ourselves  to  almost  certain  detection  as  having 
had  a  share  in  the  robbery." 

Phelim  ripped  out  an  oath,  adding,  "  They's 
all  marked — ivery  wan  ov  thim  ;  an'  I've  resked 
a  tarm  o'  years  in  the  pinetintiary  fer  jist  noth- 
in'  at  all  at  all !" 

"  Never  fear  ;  I'll  take  care  of  that,"  re- 
turned Bangs,  grimly.  "  I  can't  afford  to  let 
you  rot  in  prison  so  long  as  you  share  your 
profits  with  me,"  he  added,  with  an  unpleasant 
laugh.  "  You'd  better  leave  these  with  me. 
They'll  be  of  no  use  to  you,  and  if  found  on 
your  person  would  send  you  to  jail  in  spite  of 
all  I  or  anybody  else  could  do  to  keep  you  out 
of  it." 

"  Mabbe  they  moight  come  intil  use  wan  o' 
these  days,"  muttered  Phelim,  turning  the 
smaller  notes  over  in  his  hands  and  gazing  rue- 
fully at  them.  "  I'll  kape  these  fer  the  prisent, 
and  yer  honor  can  hide  that  big  wan  in  yer 
strong  box,  rememberin'  it's  to  be  divided 
atween  us  whin  the  toime  comes." 

"All  right,"  said  Bangs,  adding  to  himself, 
with  an  inward  chuckle,  "  but  possession's  nine 
points  of  the  law." 

Then  he  went  on  to  urge  the  wisdom  of  leav- 
ing the  smaller  notes  also  in  his  care,  assuring 


54     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

Phelim  it  would  be  highly  dangerous  for  him  to 
retain  them  in  his  possession,  till  at  length  all 
but  one  were  surrendered  to  him. 

Phelim  then  stole  on  tiptoe  to  the  attic  room 
appropriated  to  his  use,  undressed,  and  got  into 
bed,  where,  some  hours  later,  he  was  found  by 
the  constable,  fast  asleep,  and  taken  into  cus- 
tody. 

Bangs,  having  seen  the  prisoner  discharged, 
went  directly  from  the  magistrate's  office  to 
Lakeside  to  condole  with  the  family  on  their 
loss  and  suggest  measures  for  the  recovery  of 
the  money  and  the  apprehension  of  the  thief. 

On  being  told  that  the  notes  were  marked, 
he  expressed  himself  so  confident  of  their  final 
recovery  that  the  despoiled  family  were  quite 
cheered,  and  Miriam,  in  her  thankfulness  for 
the  hope  his  words  gave  them,  was  more  gra- 
cious to  him  than  she  had  been  for  a  long  time. 

He  observed  it  with  great  satisfaction,  and, 
thinking  he  had  made  a  favorable  opening, 
began  putting  questions,  though  in  a  guarded 
way,  with  the  design  of  obtaining  the  informa- 
tion he  so  greatly  desired  in  respect  to  their 
hold  upon  the  property  and  the  extent  to  which 
this  loss  was  likely  to  embarrass  them. 

But  divining  his  motive,  her  manner  at  once 
changed  to  one  of  extreme  coldness  and  hauteur, 
as  she  gave  him  distinctly  to  understand  that 
she  would  brook  no  prying  into  her  affairs. 

He  replied  with  an  angry  denial  of  the  cor- 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    55 

rectness  of  the  implication  ;  his  queries  were 
put  from  a  sincere  desire  to  be  of  service,  and 
from  no  other  motive  ;  prying  curiosity  was 
utterly  beneath  him — utterly  foreign  to  his 
character.  And  with  that  he  rose,  bowed 
himself  out,  and  went  away  in  a  rage. 

11  Mirry,  dear,"  remonstrated  the  gentle  old 
grandmother,  "I'm  afraid  you  are  too  proud 
and  ready  to  take  offence.  It  may  be  the 
colonel  only  meant  to  be  kind." 

'  I  don't  believe  it,  grandma  ;  I  doubt  if 
the  man  ever  did  anything  from  a  purely  un- 
selfish motive." 

4  I  fear  you  have  mortally  offended  him," 
remarked  Ronald,  with  a  slight  laugh. 

'  I  hope  so,  indeed,"  she  returned,  her  breast 
heaving  and  her  eyes  sparkling,  "  and  that  his 
sister  may  take  up  his  quarrel  sufficiently  to  se- 
cure us  against  a  visit  of  condolence  from  her." 

Vain  hope  !  Bangs's  anger  was  not  of  the 
kind  to  lead  him  to  abandon  his  purpose  ;  and 
the  next  day  Mrs.  Wiley,  as  sweet,  smiling,  and 
gracious  as  ever,  again  presented  herself  at 
their  door. 

Bertie  showed  her  into  the  sitting-room, 
which  she  found  quite  deserted,  though 
through  the  open  door  of  the  adjoining  bed- 
room she  caught  a  glimpse  of  Ronald  reclin- 
ing upon  his  couch. 

"Is  your  poor,  dear  brother  worse?"  she 
asked. 


56     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

"  He's  not  quite  so  well  to-day,  ma'am," 
Bertie  answered,  placing-  a  chair  for  her  near 
the  fire.  "  Please  sit  down,  and  I'll  call  grand- 
mother." 

"  Sister  Miriam  too,  my  dear  ;  I  came  to  see 
them  both." 

"  Mirry  is  busy  with  the  baking  ;  she  can't 
come,  I  know  ;  but  I'll  tell  her,"  the  child  an- 
swered, softly  closing  Ronald's  door,  in  obedi- 
ence to  a  sign  from  him,  then  passing  into  the 
kitchen,  where  the  ladies  of  the  family  were 
busied  with  housewifely  labors,  the  grand- 
mother preparing  vegetables  for  dinner,  Miriam 
making  pies  and  baking  bread  ;  for  they  kept 
no  servant  or  cook  except  in  the  busy  harvest 
time. 

Both  turned  an  anxious  look  upon  Bertie  as 
he  came  in.  They  had  thought,  on  hearing  the 
ring,  that  the  caller  was  probably  Mr.  Himes, 
the  holder  of  the  mortgage,  coming  for  his  in- 
terest. It  was  due  that  day  ;  he  had  always 
been  very  punctual  in  calling  for  it,  and  hith- 
erto had  never  failed  to  find  it  ready  for  him. 

Bertie  did  not  wait  to  be  questioned.  "  It's 
that  lady  that  always  smiles  and  calls  every- 
body 'dear,'  ".'  he  said,  "and  she  came  to  see 
you  both — grandmother  and  Mirry." 

"  Mrs.  Wiley  !"  ejaculated  Miriam,  her 
cheeks  flushing  hotly.  "  I  wish  she  had  less 
leisure  to  bestow  upon  us — enough  to  do  at 
home  to  keep  her  there." 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY,    57 

41  Ah,  well,  child,  we  must  try  to  have  pa- 
tience !  1  dare  say  she  means  to  be  very  kind," 
sighed  the  old  lady,  hastily  washing  her  hands 
and  taking  off  the  large  work-apron  worn  to 
protect  her  neat  calico  dress.  "  I  hope  she 
won't  stay  long,  though,  or  I  shall  not  be  able 
to  get  these  potatoes  and  turnips  ready  in  time 
for  dinner." 

"  Never  mind  that,  grandma,"  returned 
Miriam  ;  "  I  can  manage  it  all  if  you  will  ex- 
cuse me  to  her  ;  but  I  cannot  and  will  not  leave 
my  baking  to  see  her  for  even  a  moment." 

Bangs  had  given  his  sister  a  detailed  account 
of  his  yesterday's  interview  with  Miriam,  arous- 
ing in  her  breast  fierce  anger  against  the  girl. 
"  How  dared  she  treat  advances  from  my 
brother  in  that  style  !"  she  exclaimed,  grind- 
ing her  teeth.  "  She  shall  be  well  paid  for  it, 
the  impudent  hussy  !  I  hope  you  are  cured 
now  of  the  desire  to  make  her  your  wife  ;  but 
get  the  property  if  you  can.  I'll  do  all  in  my 
power  to  help  you." 

"And  with  such  an  ally  I  can  hardly  fail," 
he  responded,  with  grim  satisfaction. 

So  this  was  the  secret  object  of  her  call. 

She  had  at  first  wished  to  see  Miriam  ;  but 
before  Mrs.  Heath  came  to  her  she  decided  that 
events  had  shaped  themselves  in  the  very  best 
manner  for  the  carrying  out  of  her  schemes  ; 
the  old  lady  was  likely  to  be  just  now  in  the 
state  of  mind  most  favorable  to  her  designs 


5#     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

upon  her  ;  gentle-tempered  and  loath  to  see 
the  feelings  of  another  wounded,  she  would 
naturally  feel  anxious  to  make  amends  for 
Miriam's  rudeness  to  Avery  ;  and  with  a  mind 
full  of  their  recent  loss,  she  would  open  her 
heart  in  response  to  well-simulated  sympathy. 

The  event  proved  Mrs.  Wiley's  shrewdness 
and  penetration  ;  the  guileless  old  lady  straight- 
way fell  into  her  trap.  But  of  course  the  wily 
woman  approached  her  object  in  a  roundabout 
way,  and  while  she  listened  to  a  circumstantial 
account  of  the  robbery,  given  in  response  to 
her  earnest  request,  there  was  a  second  arrival. 

Miriam,  glancing  from  the  window,  saw  the 
holder  of  the  mortgage  drive  up  to  the  gate  in 
his  farm  wagon. 

"  There  he  is  !"  she  exclaimed.  "  Bertie, 
run  out  and  ask  Mr.  Himes  if  he  will  mind  com- 
ing to  the  kitchen  to  see  me.  Tell  him  I  can't 
leave  my  baking  just  now,  and  as  there  is  a 
lady  caller  in  the  sitting-room,  and  no  fire  in 
the  parlor,  this  is  the  only  place  where  we  can 
have  a  comfortable  private  talk. ' ' 

Bertie  obeyed,  and  in  another  minute  or  two 
Mr.  Himes  was  stamping  the  snow  from  his 
feet  on  the  back  porch. 

Miriam  opened  the  door,  bade  him*  a  cheerful 
good-morning,  invited  him  in,  and  set  a  chair 
near  the  fire,  apologizing  at  the  same  time  for 
asking  him  there. 

"  Needn't  say  another  word,  Miss  Heath," 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     59 

he  said,  seating  himself  and  glancing  about  him  ; 
"  it's  a  nice,  comfortable  place  to  come  to  out  o' 
the  cold  and  the  snow  ;  neat  as  wax  and  warm 
as  toast.  But  I'm  in  somethin'  of  a  hurry,  hav- 
ing a  long  ride  to  get  back  home,  ye  know,  and 
it's  snowing  so  fast  that  the  roads  will  be  dread- 
ful heavy  afore  night  ;  so  you'll  excuse  me  if  I 
begin  on  business  at  once." 

Miriam  had  grown  pale,  and  he  noticed  it. 
"  I  don't  want  to  be  hard  on  ye,"  he  said  ; 
"  you've  always  been  prompt  with  that  inter- 
est, and  I  know  you  was  a  hopin'  fer  to  pay  off 
a  part  o'  the  principal  this  fall.  I  don't  calki- 
late  ye  can  do  that  now  (I  heard  in  town  this 
mornin'  ye'd  been  robbed  ;  and  I'm  mighty 
sorry  fer  it,  fer  your  sake  as  well's  my  own  ; 
and  I  say  that  gang  o'  burglars  had  ought  to  be 
strung  up  higher'n  Haman,  every  one  on  *em)  ; 
but  I  hope  they  didn't  git  all,  and  that  you  kin 
let  me  have  the  interest,  for  I'm  wantin'  it  bad." 
"  I  wish  I  could,  Mr.  Himes,"  Miriam  said, 
low  and  falteringly  ;  "  but  the  burglar  got  so 
nearly  all,  that  I  can  pay  only  fifty  dollars  to- 
day." 

"  Why,  that's  only  a  quarter  of  it !" 
"  Yes,  I  know  ;  and  I'm  very  sorry." 
She  went  on  to  explain  about  the  loss  of  the 
notes  and  the  ground  of  their  hope  of  speedily 
recovering  them,  adding  a  promise  to  pay  off 
the  remainder  of  the  interest  and  half  the  prin- 
cipal immediately  upon  their  restoration. 


60     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY. 

"  Well,  well,  I  hope  ye'll  git  it,"  he  said. 
"  I  don't  want  to  be  hard  on  ye,"  he  repeated  ; 
"  if  ye  can't,  ye  can't ;  and  though  it's  dreadful 
inconvenient,  I'll  wait  a  little,  hoping  the  rascal 
will  be  caught  with  all  he  stole  from  you." 

Miriam  took  her  purse  from  her  pocket  and 
a  fifty-dollar  note  from  it.  "  You  see  I  expect- 
ed you,  Mr.  Himes,"  she  said,  with  a  sad  sort 
of  smile,  and  pointing  to  a  little  side  table,  where 
were  pen,  ink,  and  paper.  '  Will  you  write  me 
a  receipt  for  this  ?  And  then,  if  you  are  not  in 
too  great  haste,  you  must  let  me  set  you  out  a 
lunch,  for  you  must  be  hungry  after  your  long 
ride." 

'  Thank'e  ;  1  am  that  ;  and  your  cookin*  has 
a  powerful  good  smell,"  he  returned,  pocketing 
the  note,  seating  himself  at  the  table,  and  tak- 
ing up  the  pen  ;  "  I  don't  know  but  it'll  pay  to 
take  time  to  snatch  a  mouthful  or  so." 

Regarding  this  as  an  acceptance  of  her  invita- 
tion, Miriam  moved  briskly  about,  spread  a 
snowy  cloth  on  one  end  of  the  large  table  at 
which  she  had  been  at  work,  and  by  the  time 
the  farmer  had  gone  through  with  the  business 
of  writing  the  receipt — a  slow  and  toilsome  one 
to  him — had  quite  a  tempting  little  repast  of 
cold  meat,  hot  rolls  and  butter,  pie,  and  ginger- 
bread ready  for  him. 

He  did  it  hasty  but  ample  justice — eating 
being  more  in  his  line  than  writing — thanked 
her  with  hearty  praise  of  her  cooking,  and  went 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.    61 

away,  his  parting  words  a  strongly  expressed 
hope  that  the  apprehension  of  the  thief  would 
soon  put  her  in  a  position  to  keep  her  promises 
of  payment  to  him. 

As  Miriam  closed  the  door  upon  him  and 
turned  to  her  work  again,  her  heart  was  heavy 
with  a  sad  foreboding  of  the  consequences  to 
her  dear  ones  and  herself  should  that  hope  fail 
of  realization. 

"  Bertie,"  she  said,  noticing  the  child  stand- 
ing at  the  window  intently  watching  Mr.  Himes 
as  he  made  his  way  down  the  garden-path  tow- 
ard his  horses  and  wagon,  "  what  made  you 
stare  so  at  the  man  while  he  was  eating  ?  I 
was  quite  ashamed  of  your  rudeness." 

'  Why,  sister,"  returned  the  child,  slowly, 
"  he  never  thanked  the  Lord  at  all  for  his 
victuals,  and  I  was  watching  to  see  him  choke 
— you  know  grandmother  said  the  other  day 
she  should  expect  to  choke  if  she  did  that  way. 
But  he  didn't,  though,  not  a  bit." 

"  Grandma  would  tell  you  that  our  Father  in 
heaven  is  very  kind  and  patient  with  us  all,  and 
that  that  is  another  reason  why  we  should  not 
abuse  His  goodness,"  Miriam  answered,  in  a 
cheerful  tone,  the  thought  of  that  goodness 
helping  her  to  throw  off  for  a  time  her  heavy 
burden  of  care. 

Not  much  occurring  in  her  vicinity  ever 
escaped  the  sharp  eyes  and  ears  of  Madam 
Wiley.  She  had  seen  Mr.  Himes  piloted  by 


62     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

Bertie  to  the  kitchen  door,  and  full  of  curiosity 
in  regard  to  his  errand  there,  had  strained  her 
ears  to  hear  the  talk  between  him  and  Miriam  ; 
but  the  girl's  tones  were  low,  the  farmer's  ut- 
terance was  indistinct,  and  Miriam  had  pur- 
posely seated  him  on  the  side  of  the  room  far- 
thest from  the  communicating  door  between  it 
and  the  sitting-room  ;  besides,  there  was  the 
distracting  necessity  of  listening  to  and  answer- 
ing  the  remarks  of  Mrs.  Heath. 

With  all  these  hindrances,  the  seeker  after 
information  found  the  task  she  had  set  herself 
beset  with  difficulties.  She  could  not  get  so 
much  as  an  inkling  of  the  subject-matter  of  dis- 
course in  the  kitchen. 

It  was  very  provoking  ;  and  only  by  the  most 
determined  effort  was  she  able  to  maintain  her 
suavity  of  speech  and  manner  and  pay  sufficient 
attention  to  what  the  old  lady  said,  to  avoid 
answering  wide  of  the  mark.  But  at  last  the 
farmer  went,  and  rallying  all  her  energies  to 
the  successful  carrying  out  of  her  purpose,  she 
skilfully  drew  the  old  lady  on  to  pour  into  her 
sympathizing  ear  the  story  of  their  family  diffi- 
culties and  perplexities. 

"  But,  dear  Mrs.  Heath,  you  surely  need  not 
feel  quite  cast  down  by  this  loss,  seeing  that 
you  own  this  lovely  place.  You  have  it  quite 
clear  of  incumbrance,  have  you  not  ? — no  mort- 
gage on  it  ?  no  flaw  in  the  title  ?"  she  at  length 
queried  in  her  sweetest,  most  tenderly  sympa- 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    63 

thetic  tones  ;  and  her  victim  was  just  beginning 
a  sad-voiced,  hesitating  reply  when  Ronald, 
who  had  some  time  before  softly  set  his  door 
ajar,  called  : 

"  Grandmother  !" 

"  Ah  !  excuse  me  for  a  moment,  my  boy  is 
wanting  something,"  the  old  lady  said,  hastily 
rising  and  hurrying  to  him. 

He  motioned  to  her  to  close  the  door  after 
her  ;  then,  drawing  her  down  to  him,  whispered 
in  her  ear,  "  Grandmother,  don't  trust  that 
woman  ;  don't  let  her  know  anything  of  our 
affairs." 

'  Well,  no,  child,  not  if  it  vexes  you  ;  but 
I'm  sure  she  means  very  kindly.  But  what 
shall  I  do  ?  I  never  was  good  at  evading  ques- 
tions ;  I  can't  tell  a  lie,  and  don't  know  any 
other  way  to  avoid  telling  the  truth." 

"  Well,  I'd  sooner  talk  to  her  as  Mirry  did 
to  her  brother  the  other  day  than  let  her  pry 
into  the  family  secrets.  But  bring  her  in  here 
to  see  me,  and  let  me  always  be  present  at  your 
interviews  after  this.  I'll  warrant  she'll  put  a 
curb  upon  her  curiosity  when  I'm  by." 

In  accordance  with  his  wishes,  the  invitation 
was  promptly  given  ;  but  suddenly,  finding  it 
high  time  she  was  at  home,  the  unwelcome 
visitor  took  her  departure. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

MR.  HIMES,  or  "Old  Himes,"  as  he  was 
often,  with  irreverent  familiarity,  designat- 
ed in  the  neighborhood,  took  his  seat  at  the 
supper-table  in  his  own  kitchen  and  looked 
across  it  with  an  expression  of  mingled  con- 
tempt and  disgust  at  the  woman  who  sat  op- 
posite and  poured  his  coffee. 

Her  face,  though  young  and  blooming,  was 
hardly  clean  ;  her  frowzy,  unkempt  hair  was  in 
curl  papers  over  her  forehead  ;  her  dress,  orig- 
inally a  gayly  colored  calico,  soiled,  faded,  and 
torn — a  not  inviting  picture  for  even  a  rough, 
hard-working  old  farmer  to  see  at  the  head  of 
his  table. 

'  Things  has  changed  considerable  since 
courtin'  days,  B'lindy,"  he  remarked  in  a  bit- 
ter, sarcastic  tone.  "  You  used  to  slick  up  real 
nice  in  them  times  when  you  knowed  I  was 
comin'." 

"  Of  course  I  did  ;  but  now  my  fortin's 
made,  what  ud  be  the  use  o'  goin'  to  all  that 
trouble  ?"  she  returned,  with  a  short  laugh. 

'  It's  a  kind  o'  cheating  I  think,"  he  went 
on,  eyeing  her  with  increasing  disgust,  "to 
'low  a  man  to  marry  you  with  the  idee  that  he's 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    65 

gettin'   a  neat,  managin',  orderly  woman,  and 
then  turn  out  a  slattern  such  as  you." 

14  Not  a  bit  more  cheatin'  than  fer  a  man  to 
give  a  woman  the  notion  that  he'a  a  goin'  to 
pet  and  humor  her  and  give  her  everything  she 
wants,  and  then,  when  he's  got  her  fast,  turn 
out  mean  and  stingy  and  hard,  wantin'  to  force 
her  to  work  mornin',  noon,  and  night,  like  a 
nigger,  and  never  have  nothin'  decent  to  wear, 
let  alone  a  cent  o'  money  to  call  her  own,"  she 
retorted,  angrily. 

'  I  was  just  objectin'  to  your  not  lookin'  de- 
cent. You've  got  clo'es  a  plenty  if  you'd  wear 
'em." 

'  I  haven't.  I'd  ought  to  have  a  new  dress 
this  minute,  and  a  handsome  one  too.  I'm  sure 
I  deserve  it  fer  thro  win'  myself  away  on  an  old 
codger  like  you  when  there  was  a  plenty  o' 
likely  young  fellers  as  would  a  been  glad 
enough  to  get  me,  and  treat  me  decent,  too  !" 
she  cried,  bursting  into  angry  tears. 

'  That  isn't  no  way  to  get  nothin'  out  o'  me, 
I  kin  tell  ye  !"  he  growled. 

"  You're  an  old  brute  !  You're  always  abus- 
in'  me,"  she  sobbed.  "As  if  anybody  could 
keep  fixed  up  and  doin'  all  the  hard,  dirty  work 
I  have  to  do." 

"  Some  folks  kin.  There's  Miss  Heath,  now  ; 
no  matter  what  she's  doin'  she's  always  neat 
as  a  pin— hair  done  up  smooth,  dress  clean  and 
fresh,  if  it  ain't  but  a  cheap  calico." 


66     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

"  Pity  you  hadn't  married  her  !" 

"Just  what  I  think — if  I  could  a  got  her. 
Don't  know  about  that,  seein'  as  I  never  asked 
her.  I  was  fool  enough  to  be  took  in  with  your 
black  eyes  and  red  cheeks  and  simperin'  ways. 
But  I  wouldn't  a  been  if  I'd  knowed  what  a 
poor  fist  you'd  make  at  housekeepin'  an'  cook- 
in',  lettin'  things  run  to  waste,  and  how  you'd 
spoil  all  your  good  looks  by  keepin'  yerself 
more'n  half  the  time  so  slatternly  and  dirty. 
Neatness  and  cleanliness  are  better,  to  my  way 
o'  thinkin',  than  all  the  finery  in  the  world." 

They  were  an  ill-assorted  couple,  of  uncon- 
genial disposition  and  utterly  dissimilar  tastes 
and  opinions,  as  was  not  surprising  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  they  had  been  very  differently 
brought  up,  and  that  she  was  the  younger  by 
some  forty  years. 

She,  a  penniless,  almost  friendless  orphan, 
had  married  for  a  home  and  with  the  vain  ex- 
pectation of  being  a  petted  darling,  who  would 
have  little  to  do  but  deck  herself  in  finery  ;  he, 
to  gratify  a  sudden  foolish  fancy  which  had 
speedily  changed  to  disgust  when  he  became 
acquainted  with  the  true  character  of  its  object. 

Such  scenes  of  mutual  anger  and  recrimina- 
tion were  now  by  no  means  of  rare  occurrence 
between  them.  He  presently  rose,  and  with  a 
parting  fling  at  her  untidy  appearance  and 
faulty  housewifery,  went  out  to  attend  to  his 
cattle. 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  R1VKR   V A  I. LEV.    67 

Belinda,  springing  to  her  feet,  shook  her 
clinched  fist  at  his  back  as  he  disappeared 
through  the  doorway,  and  muttering,  "  You 
old  tyrant,  I'll  pay  you  off  one  o'  these  fine 
clays,  that  I  will  !"  began  gathering  up  the 
dishes  and  clearing  the  table  with  angry  jerks 
and  a  great  deal  of  clatter. 

She  smiled  a  grim  smile  of  satisfaction  as,  on 
going  to  the  door  an  hour  later,  she  saw  her 
husband  walking  briskly  down  the  road  in  the 
direction  of  the  nearest  neighbor's. 

4  There,  he's  off  for  a  good  long  talk  with 
Mr.  Harkness,  and  I'll  have  the  house  to  my- 
self for  awhile,"  she  said,  half  aloud,  having, 
from  being  much  alone,  fallen  into  the  habit  of 
talking  audibly  to  herself. 

The  sun  had  set,  and  within  doors  it  was 
growing  dark.  She  lighted  a  lamp,  swept  and 
otherwise  set  to  rights  her  dirty,  disorderly 
kitchen,  released  her  hair  from  its  curl  papers, 
combed,  brushed,  and  arranged  it  becomingly 
before  a  looking-glass  hanging  on  the  wall 
above  a  side  table. 

Then,  lamp  in  hand,  she  went  into  an  adjoin- 
ing bedroom,  where  she  changed  her  dingy, 
dirty  dress  for  a  comparatively  new  and  clean 
one,  adding  to  her  adornment  collar,  cuffs,  and 
a  showy  breastpin. 

She  stood  for  several  minutes  smiling  and 
simpering  at  her  reflection  in  the  glass  ;  then, 
pulling  open  a  bureau  drawer,  took,  from  it  a 


68     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY. 

scarlet  shawl,  which  she  folded  with  care  and 
threw  over  her  plump  shoulders.  Next,  a  bon- 
net of  crimson  cotton  velvet  profusely  trimmed 
with  cheap  feathers  and  flowers  was  taken  from  a 
bandbox,  turned  about  admiringly  in  her  hands, 
then  tried  on  before  the  glass  with  a  repetition 
of  the  simpering  and  smiling. 

"  It's  just  splendid  !"  she  said,  aloud,  "  and 
the  becomingest  thing  out.  But  what  on  earth 
was  that?"  she  cried,  starting,  and  turning 
toward  the  window  with  a  frightened  look. 
She  had  seemed  to  hear  a  quick  breath,  a  mut- 
tered curse. 

She  stood  for  a  moment  trembling  with  fear, 
gazing  at  the  window  with  dilated  eyes.  There 
were  no  shutters,  but  a  short  muslin  curtain 
was  drawn  across  the  lower  sash,  completely 
obstructing  her  view  of  any  and  everything  that 
might  be  upon  the  outside.  "  What  was 
there?"  She  dared  not  go  nearer  to  examine 
and  satisfy  her  doubts  by  raising  curtain  or 
sash  and  looking  out. 

But  there  was  no  repetition  of  the  sound,  and 
presently  she  concluded  she  had  been  mistaken  ; 
it  was  all  imagination  ;  and  she  fell  to  admiring 
herself  and  her  finery  as  before. 

There  was  a  face  at  the  window,  pressed 
close  against  the  glass,  where  the  parting  of  the 
curtain  left  a  slight  opening  through  which  a 
good  view  might  thus  be  obtained  of  all  that 
was  transpiring  within  the  room.  It  was  the 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    69 

face  of  a  tall,  stoutly  built  man,  very  much 
younger  than  her  husband  and  more  comely  of 
feature,  but  his  expression  as  he  glared  upon 
her  was  at  times  almost  diabolical. 

"  Yes,  them's  the  things  she's  sold  herself 
fer,"  he  muttered,  grinding  his  teeth  with  rage. 
Then,  softening  a  little,  "  But  she  is  a  purty 
crayther,  an'  it's  mesilf,  Phalim  O'Rourke,  that 
cud  a'most  be  fool  enough  to  thry  her  agin  if 
the  ould  thafe  of  a  husband  was  out  o'  the 
way. ' ' 

Then  again,  as  he  watched  her  childish  de- 
light in  her  finery,  the  smiling,  dancing  eyes, 
the  rosy  cheeks  dimpling,  and  the  red  lips 
wreathing  themselves  in  smiles,  his  face  dark- 
ened with  jealous  rage,  and  muttered  curses 
were  on  his  tongue.  She  was  happy  with  his 
rival,  the  man  who  had  robbed  him  of  her  (the 
pretty  girl  who  had  promised  herself  to  him  be- 
fore he  went  away  to  the  war)  by  the  superior 
attraction  of  a  well-filled  purse. 

The  terror  in  her  face  when  she  overheard 
his  curse  gave  him  a  sort  of  fiendish  delight  for 
the  moment.  He  would  not  have  cared  had 
she  come  to  the  window  and  found  him  there, 
yet  he  thought  it  more  prudent  not  to  make  her 
aware  of  his  presence  or  further  excite  her  fears. 
.  At  length  the  sound  of  approaching  footsteps 
crunching  the  hard,  frozen  snow  in  the  road  on 
the  other  side  of  the  fence  sent  him  from  the 
window. 


70     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

He  stepped  quickly  into  the  shadow  of  the 
house,  then  behind  a  tree,  whence  he  could 
have  almost  laid  his  hand  on  the  shoulder  of  the 
old  farmer  as  he  passed  on  his  way  from  the 
front  gate  to  the  kitchen  door. 

'  I  moight  a  blowed  his  brains  out  and  he'd 
never  a  knowed  what  hurt  him,"  the  intruder 
said  to  himself  with  a  bitter  laugh  as  he 
turned  and  stole  away  to  seek  shelter  in  the 
barn. 

Meanwhile  Himes  was  shaking  and  pounding 
the  kitchen  door.  Belinda  heard  him,  hastily 
threw  aside  bonnet  and  shawl,  snatched  up  the 
lamp,  and  hurried  to  admit  him. 

'  What  are  ye  locked  up  fer?"  he  growled. 
"  Keep  a  man  freezin*  outside  till  ye  choose  to 
let  him  in,  will  ye  ?" 

1  'Twasn't  two  minutes,"  she  said  ;  "  and  I 
can  tell  you  I'm  not  a  goin'  to  stay  here  alone 
after  dark  with  the  doors  unfastened  and 
burglars  about." 

"  Fixed  up  at  last  !"  he  remarked,  jeeringly, 
and  eyeing  her  askance  as  she  set  the  lamp  on 
the  table. 

Picking  it  up,  he  walked  into  the  bedroom. 
She  had  left  the  door  ajar  in  her  haste,  and  he 
seemed  to  know  by  intuition  that  she  had  been 
there,  and  at  something  she  would  prefer  to 
hide  from  him. 

That  was  the  fact ;  for  though  he  must,  of 
course,  learn  at  some  time  of  her  new  purchases, 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    71 

she  wished,  since  it  was  sure  to  anger  him,  to 
put  off  the  evil  day  as  long  as  possible. 

She  followed  him  with  a  half-terrified,  half- 
defiant  air. 

'  What,  more  finery  ?"  he  exclaimed,  turn- 
ing on  her,  his  face  flushing  angrily.  "  Do  you 
intend  to  ruin  me,  woman  ?" 

"  I've  earned  it — every  cent  of  it — and  ten 
times  more  !"  she  said,  straightening  herself 
and  regarding  him  with  scornful,  flashing  eyes. 
"  Do  you  suppose  I'm  a  goin'  to  cook,  bake, 
wash,  scrub,  and  mend  for  you  fer  nothin'  ? 
Not  if  I  know  myself,  I  ain't  !" 

"  Humph  !  We'll  see  about  that  !"  he  grunt- 
ed. "  I'll  go  to  every  store  in  Prairieville  and 
Riverside,  Frederic  and  Fairfield,  and  tell  'em 
not  to  trust  you,  fer  I  won't  be  responsible  fer 
yer  debts." 

'  Very  well  ;  then  you'll  pay  good  wages  to 
me  or  somebody  else,  or  do  your  work  your- 
self !" 

He  made  no  reply  in  words,  but  snatching 
the  bonnet,  carried  it  out  to  the  kitchen,  and 
threw  it  into  the  fire.  She  rushed  after  him, 
and  made  frantic  efforts  to  save  it  ;  but  he  held 
her  back,  and  grimly  smiling,  watched  it  slowly 
burn  to  ashes. 

Then  she  dried  her  eyes  and  vowed  ven- 
geance ;  she  would  have  a  divorce  and  make 
him  maintain  her  without  work. 

"  I  hain't  the  least  objection  in  the  world  to 


72     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

the  first  part  o'  that,"  he  said,  "  but  we'll  see 
about  t'other." 

For  hours  darkness  and  silence  had  reigned 
supreme  in  the  farm-house.  Belinda  had  wept 
herself  to  sleep  by  the  side  of  her  now  detested 
spouse,  and  he,  too,  was  wrapped  in  slumber 
most  profound. 

The  door  from  the  kitchen  opened  with  sud- 
den, noiseless  movement,  and  with  equally 
noiseless  step  a  tall,  dark  figure  drew  near  the 
bed.  Slowly  and  cautiously  it  turned  the  light 
of  a  dark  lantern  upon  the  face  of  the  sleeping 
woman  and  bent  over  her  a  darkly  scowling 
face  whose  eyes  gleamed  with  concentrated 
rage  and  hate. 

He  held  the  lantern  in  his  left  hand,  in  the 
right  a  dagger.  He  glanced  at  it,  at  her,  and 
back  again  at  it.  Had  her  eyes  opened  at  that 
instant,  perhaps  she  would  have  died  of  fright ; 
but  she  slept  on,  breathing  softly  and  regularly, 
though  her  face  wore  a  sad  and  troubled  look, 
and  traces  of  tears  were  on  her  cheeks,  her  pil- 
low wet  with  them. 

The  sight  moved  him,  stern  and  revengeful 
as  he  was  ;  he  gazed  on,  his  face  gradually 
softening,  and  finally  turned  away,  slipping  the 
dagger  into  its  sheath,  then  half  withdrawing  it 
as  his  eye  fell  on  the  old  man  on  the  farther  side 
of  the  bed,  soundly  sleeping  also,  with  his  face 
to  the  wall,  and  little  dreaming  that  there  was 
but  a  step  between  him  and  a  death  of  violence 


THE   TRAGEDY  or  \\'1I.D  RIVEK   VALLEY.     73 

and  blood.  One  moment  of  hesitation,  and  the 
intruder  withdrew  as  stealthily  as  he  had  en- 
tered, passing  on  through  the  kitchen  into  the 
open  air. 

"I'll  let  'em  alone,"  he  muttered,  "and 
they'll  revinge  Phalim  O'Rourke  on  aich  ither 
better'n  he  cud  do  it  hisself ;  an'  that  widout 
anny  danger  o'  State  prison  fer  sendin'  'em 
aforehand  to  purgatory,  that  mabbe  wadn't  be 
no  worse  nor  what  they're  makin'  atween  their- 
selves  now." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THERE  was  a  belt  of  timber,  principally  oak 
and  hickory,  on  the  Himes  place,  and  one 
afternoon  the  old  man  informed  his  wife  that 
"  a  young-  feller  was  comin'  to  help  him  for  a 
week  or  so  fellin'  trees  and  cuttin'  'em  up  into 
cord  wood." 

"  More  work  for  me,  I  s'pose,"  she  said,  in  a 
sullen  tone. 

"  He'll  board  and  lodge  here.  You  kin  git  a 
room  ready  fer  him  and  set  an  extry  plate  onto 
the  table.  He'll  be  here  to  supper  to-night  if 
he's  a  man  o'  his  word,"  was  the  nonchalant 
reply.  And  Mr.  Himes  stepped  from  the 
kitchen  door  and  walked  off  in  the  direction  of 
the  barn. 

Belinda's  face  brightened  as  she  went  upstairs 
and  busied  herself  in  making  a  bed  in  a  little 
room  usually  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the 
hired  man,  when  they  had  one.  They  had 
now  been  without  one  for  some  time,  and  she 
was  inexpressibly  weary  of  the  uncongenial  so- 
ciety of  her  old  husband.  Any  change,  she 
thought,  must  be  for  the  better. 

She  was  bustling  about,  setting  her  table 
while  the  supper  was  cooking  over  the  fire, 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    75 

when  the  outer  door  opened,  and  a  man's  step 
—not  that  of  her  husband,  yet  strangely  famil- 
iar— crossed  the  threshold.  She  turned  to  see 
whose  it  was,  then  uttered  a  low  cry  full  of  ter- 
ror, while  her  cheek  blanched  and  the  dish  in  her 
hand  fell  to  the  floor  with  a  crash  and  lay  in 
fragments  at  her  feet. 

For  several  minutes  they  stood  silently  gaz- 
ing into  each  other's  eyes,  hers  dilating  with  fear, 
his  stern  and  gloomy,  a  grim  smile  upon  his  lips. 
'  Yis,  it's  me,"  he  said  at  last ;  "  an'  what 
have  ye  to  say  fer  yersilf,  false,  desateful, 
treacherous  crayther  that  ye  are  ?" 

'  They  told  me  ye  was  killed,"  she  answered, 
in  a  shaking  voice,  staggering  back  and  drop- 
ping into  a  chair,  but  never  taking  her  eyes 
from  his  face  ;  "  shot  down  dead  in  one  o'them 
awful  battles  ;  and  I  thought  it  must  be  your 
ghost." 

"  I'm  a  livin'  man  an'  no  ghost,"  he  returned, 
with  a  mocking  laugh.  "  An' ye  soon  comfort- 
ed yersilf  wid  ould  Himes  and  his  house  an' 
farm,  did  ye  ?" 

' '  What  could  I  do  ?  When  you  was  gone, 
the  rest  was  all  alike  to  me.*  I'd  no  home,  no- 
body in  the  wide  world  to  care  for  me,"  she 
sobbed,  covering  her  face  with  her  hands  ; 
44  and  he  said  he'd  be  so  good  to  me — I  should 
have  everything  I  wanted.  But  it  isn't  so  ;  he's 
:IM  awful  man  to  live  with  ;  and  I'm  just  heart 
broke,  that  I  am  !" 


76     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

"  An'  if  'twas  all  to  do  over  agin,  ye  wadn't 
give  me  up  fer  the  likes  o'  him — house  an'  farm 
an'  all  ?"  he  queried,  drawing  a  step  nearer  and 
bending  toward  her  with  an  eager  look  in  his 
eyes,  while  his  tones  softened  till  they  were 
almost  affectionate. 

"  Never  !"  she  cried,  passionately.  "  I'd 
take  you  without  a  penny  sooner  than  him  with 
all  the  gold  of  Californy."  And  her  face,  lifted 
to  his,  was  full  of  yearning  love  and  entreaty. 

11  I  knowed  it,  me  own  darlint,  jewel  o'  me 
heart  !"  he  cried,  clasping  her  in  his  arms  and 
heaping  fond  caresses  upon  her.  '  It's  an  evil 
fate  that's  come  atween  us  ;  but  him  that's 
robbed  me's  an  ould  man,  an'  I'm  young,  an' 
mabbe  my  turn  '11  come  when  he's  took  out  o' 
the  way." 

"  Go  !  go  !  run  !  he'll  be  here  in  a  minute, 
maybe,  and  kill  you  if  he  finds  you  here  !"  she 
cried,  hastily  releasing  herself  and  pushing  him 
from  her. 

"  Kill  me  !  ha  !  ha  !  that  wake  ould  man  !  Do 
yees  think  I'd  come  off  second  best  in  a  foight 
wid  the  loikes  o'  him  ?"  he  asked,  with  a  scorn- 
ful laugh.  "  But  yees  needn't  be  afeard,  B'lin- 
dy  ;  I'm  the  chap  as  he's  hired  to  help  him  chop 
down  his  trees." 

"  Oh  !"  she  exclaimed,  with  a  look  of  relief. 
"  But  we  must  behave  cautious,  Phelim — 
mustn't  let  him  suspect  as  we've  ever  set  eyes 
on  each  other  till  now." 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     77 

He  assented  to  the  wisdom  of  her  proposi- 
tion, and  as  footsteps  were  heard  approaching 
from  without,  moved  quickly  to  the  farther 
side  of  the  room,  and  as  the  master  of  the  house 
came  in,  seemed  very  much  engaged  with  the 
county  paper  which  he  found  lying  on  the  win- 
dow-sill. 

Belinda  was  stooping  over  the  fire,  stirring 
something  stewing  in  a  pan. 

"Supper  not  ready?"  Himes  asked,  in  a 
surly  tone.  Then,  catching  sight  of  the  new- 
comer, "  Ah  !  so  you're  here,  O'Rourke  !  Well, 
set  up  to  the  table.  I  guess  we'll  have  some- 
thing to  eat  after  a  bit." 

By  previous  arrangement,  Teddy  McManus 
was  to  temporarily  supply  Phelim's  place  with 
Bangs,  thus  leaving  Phelim  at  liberty  to  stay 
away  as  long  as  should  seem  advisable  for  their 
common  interest.  He  accordingly  spent  sev- 
eral weeks  in  the  employ  of  Farmer  Himes,  fell- 
ing trees  and  cutting  wood  all  day  in  company 
with  the  old  man,  and  often,  in  the  long  even- 
ings, enjoying  a  stolen  interview  with  Belinda 
when  a  call  upon  some  neighbor  or  a  visit  to 
the  nearest  town  had  taken  her  husband  out  of 
the  way. 

The  woman's  conscience  troubled  her  sorely 
at  times  ;  she  knew  she  was  doing  very  wrong, 
now  that  she  was  the  wife  of  another  man,  to 
let  this  one  talk  to  her  in  the  old  lover-like  way  ; 
that  was  proper  enough  while  she  was  free  to 


78     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

bestow  her  heart  and  hand  upon  him.  But  she 
stifled  the  reproaches  of  the  inward  monitor, 
and  went  on  in  the  evil  course  that  must  end  in 
sorrow  and  shame. 

But  O'Rourke  had  a  purpose  in  coming  there 
aside  from  his  passion  for  her  and  wish  to  ob- 
tain the  money  paid  him  for  his  work.  He  was 
in  Bangs's  employ  still,  though  in  a  new  ca- 
pacity. 

"  I've  a  little  job  on  hand  that  mabbe  you 
cud  help  me  wid,  me  jewel,"  he  said  to  Belinda 
one  evening  in  the  second  week  of  his  stay. 

"  What's  that?"  she  asked,  looking  up  from 
her  sewing  in  some  surprise  and  apprehension. 

"  Nothin'  to  fright  ye,"  he  returned,  laugh- 
ing. "  It's  jist  this,  me  darlint.  There's  a 
gintleman  as  wants  to  foind  out,  fer  some  raison 
o'  his  own,  if  yer  ould  man's  got  a  margage — I 
belave  that's  what  they  call  it— on  Lakeside, 
the  farm  belongin'  till  the  Heaths." 

"How  should  I  know  if  he  has?"  she  re- 
turned. 'He  never  tells  me  nothin'  about  his 
business,  and  I  don't  know  what  a  margage  is." 

"  It's  a  paper  wid  writin'  onto  it,  darlint,  and 
one  as  it  wudn't  be  o'  no  use  at  all  at  all  to 
take,"  he  explained  ;  "  not  till  me  nor  the  gin- 
tleman I  was  spakin'  av,  though  mabbe  it 
moight  fer  the  folks  it's  drawed  against." 

"  Would  you  know  it  if  you  saw  it  ?" 

"  Sorra  a  bit,  jewel,  but  ye  wad  ;  ye  can 
rade  writin'." 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    79 

1  Yes  ;  but  I  tell  you  I  don't  know  what  sort 
of  a  thing  it  is." 

4 '  Somethin'  loike  this  jist— tellin'  that  money's 
owed  on  the  farm,  an*  if  it  ain't  paid  by  sich  a 
toime,  the  feller  what  holds  the  margage  can 
sell  'em  out  and  git  his  money." 

'  Then  anybody  that  had  the  paper  could  do 
that,  couldn't  he  ?"  she  asked,  with  increasing 
interest. 

"  No,  not  if  he  stole  it,  the  gintleman  tould 
me  ;  the  writin's  got  to  be  fixed  to  suit,  wid  the 
roight  name  ontil  it.  He'll  be  afther  buyin'  it, 
I  belave,  whin  he  foinds  out  all  about  it  ;  an' 
he'll  pay  me  a  purty  penny  if  I  foind  out  an' 
let  him  intil  the  sacret." 

"  But  what  made  him  think  it  was  here  ?" 
'  Well,  a  friend  o'   his'n  see  the  ould  man 
over  there,  an*  somethin*  put  it  intil  her  head 
as  it  moight  be  he  wuz  afther  money,  the  folks 
seemin'  kind  o'  distressed  loike." 

Mr.  Himes's  return  broke  off  the  conversa- 
tion, but  it  was  renewed  by  Phelim  at  the  first 
opportunity,  and  at  length  Belinda  was  prevailed 
upon  to  promise  to  make  an  examination  of  her 
husband's  papers  if  she  could  in  any  way  manage 
to  get  possession  of  the  key  to  the  strong  box 
in  which  they  were  kept.  This  key  he  carried 
on  his  person  during  the  day  and  put  carefully 
under  his  pillow  at  night.  She  had  never  been 
permitted  to  touch  it,  nor  did  it  seem  likely  she 
ever  would  be. 


So     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

But  one  day,  having  torn  his  coat,  he  brought 
it  to  her  to  mend. 

"  Mind  you  do  it  right  away,"  he  said,  "  for 
I'll  have  to  wear  my  Sunday  one  till  it's  done. 
I  can't  chop  wood  in  that,  so  I'll  just  step  over 
to  Harkness's  to  ask  what  cord  wood's  a  sellin' 
fer  now  in  Prairieville." 

Dropping  the  coat  the  moment  the  door 
closed  on  him,  Belinda  ran  to  the  front  window 
and  watched  him  stealthily  as  he  crossed  the 
yard  and  went  out  at  the  gate  ;  then,  hurrying 
back,  she  searched  the  pockets  of  the  coat. 

Yes,  the  key  Avas  there%  She  drew  it  out 
with  a  gleeful  laugh.  There  was  nothing  she 
enjoyed  with  a  keener  relish  than  prying  into 
whatever  he  particularly  desired  to  keep  secret 
from  her.  First  satisfying  herself  that  he  had 
not  discovered  his  loss  and  turned  back  to  re- 
trieve it,  she  hastened  to  make  use  of  this 
"  lucky  chance." 

It  so  happened  that  the  first  paper  she  opened 
proved  to  be  the  one  she  was  in  search  of. 
She  read  enough  to  make  sure  of  that,  gloated 
for  several  minutes  over  rolls  of  bank-notes  and 
piles  of  gold  and  silver  coin,  feeling  strongly 
tempted  to  help  herself  ;  but  deterred  by  the 
almost  certain  conviction  that  her  husband 
knew  to  a  cent  how  much  was  there,  she  hur- 
riedly shut  down  the  lid,  relocked  the  box,  and 
went  back  to  her  work. 

Well  for  her  that  she  did  ;  for  scarcely  had 


THE   TKAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    81 

she  taken  the  first  stitch  in  the  garment  when 
the  old  man  rushed  in  in  breathless  haste  and 
snatched  it  from  her  hands. 

44  What's  that  for  ?"  she  asked,  her  black  eyes 
snapping. 

44  Have  ye  -been  makin'  free  with  this?"  he 
demanded,  shaking  the  key  in  her  face.  "  It'll 
not  be  good  for  ye  if  ye  have." 

4  With  that  ?"  she  cried,  in  well-feigned  sur- 
prise. "  I  only  wish  I'd  knowed  it  was  there. 
But  if  you  jerk  my  work  out  o'  my  hands  agin, 
ye  may  do  yer  mendin'  yerself." 

He  started  upon  his  errand  a  second  time, 
and  only  waiting  until  he  was  well  out  of  sight, 
she  threw  a  shawl  over  her  head  and  ran  to  the 
wood,  where  Phelim's  axe  was  descending  with 
ringing  strokes  upon  a  fallen  tree.  They  ceased 
at  her  approach. 

"  What  is  it  ?"  he  asked  ;  "  have  ye  come  til 
me  fer  purtection  from  that  ould  brute  baste  ?" 

"  No,"  she  answered,  with  a  scornful  laugh, 
"  he  hasn't  got  so  far  as  to  strike  me  yet." 

Then  she  went  on  to  tell  of  her  chance  oppor- 
tunity ;  how  she  had  improved  it,  and  the  dis- 
covery she  had  made. 

44  Good  !  good  !"  he  cried,  his  eyes  gleaming 
with  satisfaction  and  with  greed.  ' '  But  ye're 
sure  now  the  margage  is  on  the  Heath  prop- 
erty ?" 

'  Yes  ;  certain  sure.  You'll  not  get  me  into 
trouble  about  it  ?' ' 


82     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

"  Niver  a  bit,  me  darlint.  And  so  that's 
where  the  ould  divil  kapes  his  money,  is  it  ? 
How  much  do  ye  s'pose  he  has  there  ?" 

"  I  didn't  dare  look,"  she  answered,  evasive- 
ly, "  and  he'll  take  good  care  I  don't  never  get 
hold  o'  that  key  again.  You  may  count  on  that. 
Now  I  must  run  back  and  do  that  mendin' 
afore  he  gits  home." 

She  flew  back  to  the  house  and  worked  with 
nervous  haste  ;  the  mending  must  be  done  be- 
fore her  husband's  return,  lest  his  suspicions 
should  be  aroused.  She  had  just  completed 
her  task,  thrown  the  coat  over  a  chair-back  and 
set  about  getting  supper,  when  he  came  in. 

He  gave  her  a  sharp,  suspicious  glance,  and 
passed  on  into  the  next  room,  where  the  strong- 
box was.  He  had  been  thinking  on  his  home- 
ward walk  that  perhaps  she  had  found  and 
made  use  of  the  key  in  those  few  minutes  that 
it  was  out  of  his  possession. 

He  would  find  out,  he  said  to  himself,  and  if 
a  dollar  of  his  precious  store  were  missing,  he 
would  demand  its  instant  return.  Fortunately 
she  could  not  have  had  time  and  opportunity  to 
spend  it. 

Belinda  awaited  with  a  quaking  heart  the  re- 
sult of  his  examination.  What  if  she  had  un- 
wittingly disarranged  the  papers  !  What  might 
he  not  do  to  her  in  his  fury  if  such  were  the 
case  ! 

It  seemed  a  long  while  that  he  was  there. 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    83 

Evidently  he  must  be  counting  his  money. 
How  glad  she  was  that  she  had  resisted  the 
temptation  to  take  a  little  !  At  last  he  came 
out  with  a  satisfied,  triumphant  look  that  ban- 
ished her  fears. 

Early  the  next  week  Phelim  O'Rourke  re- 
turned to  Prairieville,  the  time  of  his  engage- 
ment with  Mr.  Himes  having  expired. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

"IT7HY  !  why  !  why  !  what's  the  meaning 
VV  of  all  this  ?"  cried  Mr.  Himes,  in  tones 
of  mingled  anger,  amazement,  and  rebuke  ; 
* '  did  you  actually  go  to  bed  leaving  this  out- 
side door  open,  Belindy  ?" 

It  was  early  in  the  morning,  some  two  or 
three  weeks  after  the  events  related  in  our  last 
chapter,  and  the  two  had  but  just  risen  to 
begin  the  new  day. 

"  Me?  Of  course  not !"  returned  the  wife, 
in  indignant  surprise  not  unmingled  with 
fright,  running  out,  only  half  dressed  as  she 
was,  to  find  her  husband  standing  on  the 
kitchen  hearth,  gazing  in  open-mouthed  aston- 
ishment at  the  wide-open  door. 

He  turned  angrily  upon  her.  "  You  must 
have  done  it ;  you  was  the  last  to  go  to  bed." 

"  Ketch  me  at  it !"  she  said.  "I'm  too  much 
afraid  o'  them  burglars  by  a  great  deal." 

"Burglars!"  he  echoed,  and  rushed  wildly 
into  the  adjoining  room.  The  lid  of  his  strong- 
box was  raised,  papers  were  scattered  about 
the  floor.  He  seemed  unable  to  believe  the 
evidence  of  his  senses  ;  he  rubbed  his  hand 
across  his  forehead,  muttering,  "  I  must  be 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD^RIVER  VALLEY.    85 

dreamin'.  Nobody  couldn't  never  have  broke 
that  lock,  nor  picked  it  neither,  and — " 

He  stepped  to  the  box  and  stooped  over  it 
for  a  moment ;  then,  straightening  himself, 
turned  toward  his  wife  a  face  from  which  every 
vestige  of  color  had  fled. 

"  It's  gone  !"  he  gasped  ;  "  every  cent  of 
it!" 

"How  much?"  she  asked,  trembling  and 
distressed. 

44  All  I  had  ;  the  earnin's  and  savin's  o'  years 
and  years  6'  hard  work  !" 

41  Why  didn't  you  put  it  into  the  bank  ?" 

44  Because  I  wasafeard  o'  them  ;  banks  breaks 
now  and  agin,  and  they're  .often  robbed,  too, 
by  folks  inside  and  out  ;  nobody  knows  who's 
honest  and  who  isn't.  Oh,  dear  !  oh,  dear  !" 

He  began  picking  up  the  papers  and  restor- 
ing them  to  their  places,  groaning  and  lament- 
ing all  the  time,  and  even  shedding  tears. 

44  How  quiet  they  must  a  done  it  all  !"  she 
said,  shuddering,  and  glancing  about,  half  ex- 
pecting to  see  a  burglar.  '  I  never  heard  a 
sound.  And  they  must  have  been  in  our  room 
to  get  the  key  !"  she  exclaimed,  with  a  fresh 
accession  of  fright  at  the  thought. 

14  No,  they  wasn't !"  he  said,  sharply. 
44  Can't  you  see  the  lock's  broke  ?" 

At  that  she  walked  back  to  the  kitchen, 
closed  the  outer  door,  started  the  fire,  and  put 
the  kettle  on  to  boil,  her  thoughts  all  the  \vhile 


86     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

busy  with  their  loss  and  the  manner  in  which 
the  robbery  had  been  effected.  She  knew  no 
more  of  it  than  he  did.  Phelim  had  not  confid- 
ed in  her,  and  as  yet  she  had  no  suspicion  of  his 
connection  with  the  band  of  housebreakers  and 
thieves  infesting  the  valley. 

The  old  man  was  so  full  of  grief  and  despair 
that  he  could  not  eat ;  leaving  his  breakfast 
almost  untasted,  and  bidding  his  wife  attend  to 
the  outdoor  work,  which  he  usually  did  him- 
self, he  mounted  his  swiftest  horse  and  hastened 
to  the  nearest  town  to  see  what  steps  could  be 
taken  toward  the  recovery  of  his  stolen  prop- 
erty. 

But  as  before,  when  committing  similar  acts 
of  depredation,  the  wily  villains  had  managed 
their  work  so  adroitly  that  no  clew  to  their 
identity  could  be  found. 

Weeks  passed  on  without  any  new  light  being 
thrown  upon  the  matter,  and  under  the  griev- 
ous trial  Mr.  Himes  grew  constantly  more 
morose,  captious  and  niggardly  toward  his 
wife,  till  she  declared  that  life  spent  alone  with 
him — and  she  seldom  had  any  other  companion 
— was  an  intolerable  burden. 

Then  he  took  to  absenting  himself  frequent- 
ly, sometimes  being  gone  all  day  long,  never 
telling  her  whither  he  went  or  on  what  errand. 

At  length  he  announced  his  intention  to  sell 
his  place  and  move  into  an  adjoining  State. 

"  What  fer  ?"  Belinda  asked,  in  surprise  and 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    87 

dismay.  '  You  couldn't  get  a  nicer  place,  and 
you've  always  bragged  on  it  so.  I'd  never  have 
thought  you'd  give  it  up." 

4  There's  nothin'  wrong  with  the  place,"  he 
said,  "  but  there's  too  many  burglars  about.  I 
sha'n't  stay  here  to  be  robbed  agin  soon  as  I 
get  a  little  ahead." 

I  You'll  stay  on  here  till  after  harvest,  won't 
you  ?" 

II  I  tell  you,  I'm  a  goin'  jest  as  soon's  I  kin 
sell  out !"  he  snapped. 

Spring  had  opened,  and  the  farmers  were 
very  busy.  Once  Mr.  Himes  would  have  been 
as  much  so  as  any,  but  now  he  seemed  to  feel 
that  he  had  something  else  to  attend  to  of  more 
importance  than  the  cultivation  of  his  land. 

Miriam  Heath,  out  in  the  fields  one  bright 
morning  with  Sandy  McAllister  and  Barney 
Nolan,  overseeing  and  directing  their  opera- 
tions there,  heard  aloud  "  Halloo,  Miss  Heath  !" 
and  turning  her  head,  saw  Mr.  Himes  waving 
his  hand  to  her  from  the  road. 

"  I  must  see  what  he  wants,"  she  said  to 
Sandy,  whose  attention  had  been  arrested  by 
the  call  as  well  as  her  own.  '  I  think  you  can 
go  on  very  well  without  me  now."  And  turning 
her  horse  about,  she  rode  up  to  the  fence  that 
separated  the  field  from  the  road,  and  with  a 
courteous  greeting  to  her  caller,  asked  if  he 
would  go  into  the  house. 

"  Well,  yes  ;  p'r'aps  I  might  as  well,"  he  re- 


88     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY. 

plied,  "  if  you  can  spare  time  fer  a  little  busi- 
ness talk." 

"  I  must  always  do  that,"  she  answered. 
"  I  was  very  sorry  to  hear,  some  time  ago,  that 
you,  too,  had  been  robbed." 

"  Yes,"  he  returned,  with  a  heavy  sigh  ; 
"  and  them  rascals  made  a  bigger  haul  than 
they  did  here — got  the  savin's  o'  years.  I 
hain't  much  left  but  the  farm  and  the  stock.  I 
hope  you've  got  your  notes  back,  Miss  Heath. 
Fact  is,  I  want  that  money  awful  bad  now.  I'd 
be  glad  if  you'd  pay  the  whole  thing  off,  prin- 
cipal and  interest,  and  take  up  your  mortgage." 

"  I  wish  I  could,  indeed,"  she  said,  leading 
the  way  into  the  house  and  giving  him  a  chair, 
"  but  it  is  utterly  impossible.  We  have  had  no 
trace  of  the  notes  yet ;  and  though  we  have 
used  the  closest  economy,  I  have  but  one  hun- 
dred dollars  for  you  now.  I  will  give  you  a 
check  on  the  Prairieville  bank  for  it." 

"  Only  a  hundred  !  Why,  that  will  leave 
fifty  back  of  the  interest  due  last  fall — six 
months  ago  !" 

"  I  know  it,"  she  said,  with  a  deeply  troubled 
look  ;  "  but  if  you  will  only  have  patience,  I  am 
sure  we  will  pay  it  all  in  time." 

"  I  don't  want  to  be  hard  on  ye,  but,  as  I 
said  afore,  I  do  want  that  money  awful  bad," 
he  answered,  with  a  scowl.  '  I  mean  to  leave 
the  State,  and  I'm  try  in'  to  close  things  up  so's 
to  take  all  I  have  with  me." 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    89 

"  Have  we  not  always  paid  you  the  interest 
promptly  up  to  last  fall  ?"  she  asked. 

"Yes,  that's  so." 

"  And  can't  you  trust  us  to  send  it  to  you  as 
fast  as  we  can  raise  it  ?' ' 

44  Well,  I  reckon  likely  ye'd  do  it,  but  I'd  a 
heap  rather  take  it  all  with  me.  I  don't  want 
to  be  hard  on  ye,"  he  repeated,  "  and  I  should 
hate  to  foreclose  ;  but  I  do  want  the  money 
mighty  bad." 

Miriam's  cheek  had  grown  very  pale.  "  Oh, 
Mr.  Himes,"  she  said,  clasping  her  hands  en- 
treatingly*  "you  wouldn't  do  that?  You 
couldn't  have  the  heart  to  do  it — to  take  all  we 
have  and  turn  us  out  of  house  and  home  ?" 

"  I'd  hate  to  do  it,  but  every  man  must  look 
to  his  own  interests  first  and  foremost. ' ' 

"  Do  you  remember,"  she  said,  low  and 
huskily,  "that  it  was  to  save  the  country  my 
father  borrowed  this  money  and  mortgaged  his 
farm  to  you  ?  and  he  gave  his  life  to  the  cause  ; 
my  brother  gave  his  health  and  strength  and 
the  use  of  his  arm  ;  and  what  would  your  prop- 
erty be  worth  to-day  if  the  country  had  gone 
to  ruin?" 

"  Well,  maybe  not  much,"  he  acknowledged 
after  a  moment's  cogitation,  leaning  forward 
with  his  eyes  on  the  floor,  his  hat  in  his  hands 
and  his  elbows  on  his  knees,  "  and  I  shouldn't 
like  to  distress  ye.  Give  me  the  check  for  the 
hundred,  and  I'll  wait  a  spell  for  the  rest. 


90     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

You're  a  girl  in  a  thousand,  Miss  Miriam,  and 
I  hope  you'll  pull  through  all  right  yet" 

"  Thank  you,"  she  said,  a  little  tremulously  ; 
"if  I  do  not,  it  shall  not  be  for  lack  of  trying. 
Thank  you  for  your  forbearance,  Mr.  Himes. 
You  shall  have  all  I  can  possibly  save  this  year, 
and  if  the  crops  are  good,  that  will  be  all  the 
interest  and  a  large  part  of  the  principal.  In- 
deed, if  we  recover  the  stolen  notes  I  dare  hope 
to  pay  off  the  whole  this  year." 

He  went  away  with  the  comfortable  feeling 
that  he  had  shown  himself  a  model  of  generous 
forbearance,  and  was  deserving  of  any  amount 
of  good  fortune  in  requital  of  it  all. 

"  You  can  just  pass  that  over  to  my  credit, 
I  don't  care  to  draw  it  out  to-day,"  he  said,  as 
he  handed  in  the  check  at  the  bank. 

As  he  was  stepping  into  the  street  again,  he 
felt  a  tap  on  his  shoulder,  a  voice  asking,  at  the 
same  time,  "  How  are  you  to-day,  Mr.  Himes  ?" 

"  Ah  !  good-day,  colonel ;  how  are  you  ?"  he 
returned,  looking  round. 

"  I  want  a  little  chat  with  you  on  business," 
said  Bangs,  offering  his  hand  with  an  urbane 
smile.  '  Just  step  over  to  my  office  with  me, 
won't  you?" 

'  You  hain't  got  on  the  track  o'  them  thieves, 
hev  ye?"  queried  Himes,  half  incredulously, 
half  eagerly,  as  they  walked  on  together. 
"  But  I  s'pose  there  hain't  no  such  good  news." 

"  I  wish  I  could  say  there  was,"   was  the 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.    91 

gracious  reply  ;  "  but  they  are  cunning  rogues, 
though  we  may  promise  ourselves  that  they're 
sure  to  be  caught  finally.  No  ;  it's  another 
matter  I  want  to  speak  of  to-day.  Just  step  in 
and  take  a  chair.  I  hear  you  were  offering 
your  farm  for  sale.  Have  you  found  a  pur- 
chaser yet  ?" 

Himes  answered  in  the  negative. 

"  Well,  I  have  a  little  money  to  invest,  and 
don't  know  but  I  might  as  well  put  it  into 
land." 

Questions  and  answers  followed— as  to  the 
size  of  the  farm,  buildings  on  it,  quality  of  land, 
number  of  acres  under  cultivation,  etc. 

"  Well,  I  must  ride  out  and  look  at  it  before 
I  can  strike  a  bargain  with  you,"  the  lawyer 
said  at  length.  "  But  haven't  you  some  other 
property  for  sale — railroad  or  other  stock  ?  mort- 
gages ?" 

1  Yes,  sir  ;  I  have  a  mortgage  that  I'd  like 
mightily  to  get  the  cash  for,"  returned  Himes, 
catching  at  the  suggestion  with  unmistakable 
avidity. 

Bangs's  eyes  shone  ;  he  saw  Miriam  in  his 
power.  "On  what  property?"  he  asked, 
knowing  full  well  what  the  answer  would  be. 

"  Lakeside— the  Heaths'  place.  It's  a  nice 
one." 

4  Yes,  I  know  it,  and  wouldn't  mind  having 
a  claim  on  it.  First  mortgage  ?  and  what's  the 
amount  ?' ' 


92     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

'  Yes,   first — no  other  on  it,  fer's  I  know  ; 
and  it's  for  two  thousand  dollars." 
"  Interest  all  paid  up  ?" 

Himes  shook  his  head  ;  then  went  on  to  tell 
exactly  how  matters  stood  between  the  Heaths 
and  himself. 

"  I'll  take  it,  and  pay  every  cent  down. 
Have  you  it  with  you  ?" 

"  No  ;  it's  at  home.  I'll  bring  it  in  to-mor- 
row ;  that'll  be  best,  as  I'll  want  to  put  the 
money  in  bank  for  the  present,"  returned 
Himes,  meditatively.  '  I  don't  put  no  more 
in  the  way  o'  them  burglars,  you  see  ;  guess 
they  wouldn't  find  it  as  easy  to  break  into  the 
bank  as  into  my  house.  But — " 

He  stopped  short,  and  seemed  ill  at  ease. 

'  What  now  ?"  asked  Bangs. 

'  Why,  you  see,  I  was  just  a  thinkin'  I 
wouldn't  like  them  folks — theHeaths — to  be  fore- 
closed on  and  sold  out.  I  kind  o'  promised  Miss 
Miriam  to  wait  on  'em  a  bit,  and  she's  a  girl  in — " 

'  You  needn't  be  afraid  to  trust  them  to  me," 
smiled  Bangs,  graciously.  "  Why,  to  let  you 
into  a  secret" — he  leaned  over  and  whispered 
the  rest  into  the  farmer's  ear — "  I  expect  to 
marry  the  girl." 

'  You  do  ?  Well,  all  I've  got  to  say  is,  you'll 
get  a  mighty  handsome  woman  and  a  first-rate 
housekeeper  and  manager." 

'  I  know  all  that  better  than  anybody  can  tell 
it  to  me,"  returned  Bangs,  emphatically. 


CHAPTER   X. 

ONE   lovely  afternoon   early  in  May  two  per- 
sons, a  man  and  a  woman,  sat  side  by  side 
on  a  log  in  the  wood  that  formed  a  part  of  the 
Himes  place. 

"  Did  iver  I  hear  the  loike  o'  that  !"  he  ex- 
claimed, with  a  long,  low  whistle,  in  response 
to  something  she  had  been  telling  him.  "  He 
must  be  crazier  nor  a  loon  !  goin'  down  the 
river  on  a  raft  wid  all  his  goods  aboard.  And 
the  money,  too,  did  yees  say,  me  darlint?" 

'  I  don't  know,  but  I  suppose  so  ;  he's  goin' 
to  buy  land  as  soon  as  he  gets  there.  He's  sold 
the  farm  here." 

"  And  the  margage  on  Lakeside,"  he  supple- 
mented, nodding  his  head  knowingly. 

"  Has  he  ?  How  did  you  find  that  out  ?  He 
never  told  me  a  breath  about  it,"  she  returned 
in  some  surprise. 

41  Ah,  thin,"  he  chuckled,  "  sure  there's  a 
bit  av  a  burrud  that  whispers  things  intil 
Phalim  O'Rourke's  ears  whan  it's  av  impoor- 
tance  fer  him  to  know  about  'em." 

1  Is  that  so  ?"  she  asked,  with  a  slight  laugh. 
'  But  how  does  that  margage  concern  you  ?" 

4 '  Ah,  that's  me  sacret ;  but  sure,  the  ould 


94     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

man's  affairs  consarn  me,  seein'  that  a  good  bet 
o'  his  money'll  be  comin'  till  you  whan  he's 
out  o'  the  way  under  the  turuf. " 

"  I  wish  he  was  there  now  !"  she  cried,  burst- 
ing into  sudden  passion.  "  I  haven't  the  first 
bit  of  comfort  in  my  life  for  thinkin'  I'm  tied 
to  him,  and  he  growlin'  and  scoldin'  from  morn- 
in'  to  night,  and  wantin'  me  to  go  dressed  like 
a  beggar.  I  don't  never  have  a  cent  but  what 
I  get  by  sellin'  milk  and  eggs,  and  that  won't 
hardly  keep  me  in  shoes  and  stockin's. " 

"  S'pose,  thin,  we  put  'im  out  o'  the  way," 
he  whispered,  bending  down  to  look  into  her 
eyes,  a  lurid  light  of  hate,  malice,  and  revenge 
gleaming  in  his  own. 

She  shrank  back  shuddering,  a  sudden  death- 
like pallor  overspreading  her  cheek.  "  You 
can't  mean  it  !"  she  said,  in  a  hoarse  whisper  ; 
"  you're  only  jokin'  !" 

"  Niver  a  bit  av  it !"  he  ejaculated,  with  an 
oath.  "Didn't  he  stale  you  from  me?  an' 
whan  I  heard  it,  didn't  I  swear  to  shoot  him 
down  in  his  tracks  loike  a  dog  ?  An'  whan  he's 
afloat  on  his  raft — crazy  ould  fool  that  he  is  ! — 
there'll  be  the  wather  at  hand  quite  convanient 
to  tumble  him  intil,  out  o'  sight." 

"  No  !  no  !  no  !"  she  cried,  recoiling  still  fur- 
ther, covering  her  face  with  her  hands,  and  shud- 
dering with  horror.  "  I  hate  him  !  I  hate  him  ! 
but — that  would  be  murder  !"  she  added,  with 
a  gasp,  "  and  we'd  be  hung  for  it— both  of  us." 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.    95 

"  No  ;  no  hangin*  in  this  State  !"  he  said,  a 
ring  of  savage  triumph  in  his  tones.  "  And 
dead  men  don't  tell  no  tales." 

Mr.  Himes  had  gone  from  home  that  day  ; 
there  was  no  danger  of  his  return  for  some 
hours,  and  the  interview  in  the  wood  did  not 
come  to  an  end  till  near  the  time  when  he 
might  be  expected. 

Before  that  the  wily  villain  had,  by  blandish- 
ments, coaxings,  entreaties,  appeals  to  her  love 
for  himself,  highly  colored  pictures  of  the 
happy  life  they  might  lead  together  were  she 
but  free  to  marry  him,  as  she  had  promised  to 
before  he  went  away  to  the  war,  and  artful  allu- 
sions to  Himes's  brutal  treatment  of  her,  suc- 
ceeded in  extracting  a  half-reluctant  consent 
from  Belinda  to  the  robbery  and  murder  of  her 
husband. 

She  still  declared,  shudderingly,  that  she 
could  not  and  would  not  take  any  active  part  in 
it,  but  promised  not  to  warn  him  of  his  danger 
or  put  any  obstacle  in  the  way  of  the  design 
upon  his  property  and  life. 

The  old  farmer,  bent  on  saving  the  expense 
of  travel  and  transportation  of  goods  by  rail, 
had  determined  to  make  a  raft  of  sufficient  size 
to  carry  himself,  wife,  household  furniture  and 
farming  implements,  and  on  that  descend  the 
river. 

In  vain  neighbors  and  friends  had  warned 
him  of  perils  from  natural  obstructions  in  the 


96     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

channel  of  the  stream  and  danger  from  burglars 
by  night,  when,  because  of  those  obstructions, 
he  would  be  compelled  to  moor  his  raft  to  the 
shore.  By  nature  headstrong  and  opinionated, 
he  held  fast  to  his  purpose. 

He  would  need  help  in  making  the  raft  ;  had 
not  yet  engaged  it ;  for  at  this  time  of  year, 
when  there  was  so  much  farm  work  to  be  done, 
it  was  scarce. 

Phelim  now  proposed  to  offer  his  services 
and  those  of  one  or  two  "  friends"  on  very  rea- 
sonable terms.  When  the  raft  was  completed 
and  had  received  its  load,  one  or  more  of  them 
would  be  needed  to  assist  in  its  navigation,  he 
said,  and  that  would  render  the  commission  of 
his  contemplated  crime  a  very  easy  matter 
some  dark  night,  when  they  were  moored  to 
the  shore  in  a  lonely  spot,  and  the  old  man  had 
fallen  asleep. 

To  Belinda's  terrified  objection  that  she 
might  be  suspected  of  complicity,  he  answered, 
"  Niver  a  bit  o't,  me  darlint  ;  whaniver  ye  see 
the  thing  started  ye'll  be  off  loike  the  wind  to 
bring  help,  sure.  But  the  nearest  house'll  be  a 
mile  away  annyhow,  an'  ye'll  not  be  called 
upon  to  kill  yersilf  wid  runnin'  ;  ye'll  presently 
go  a  bit  asier  ;  an'  we'll  mak  quick  wurruk  an' 
be  off  wid  the  money,  lavin'  the  ould  divil  in  a 
state  not  to  moind  his  loss  afore  ye  kin  git  back 
wid  yer  hilp.  And  thin,  whan  yees  sees  what's 
happened  till  him,  ye'll  mak  a  tirrible  cryin'  an' 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    97 

lamentation,  an'  sure  they'll  think  you're  heart- 
broke  intirely." 

At  length  the  two  separated  ;  Belinda  went 
back  to  the  house  to  get  supper  ready  against 
her  husband's  return,  and  Phclim,  plunging 
into  the  woods,  made  a  circuit  of  a  mile  or  so, 
and  striking  into  the  highroad,  met  Himes  rid- 
ing slowly  homeward. 

The  old  man  hung  his  head  with  a  dejected  air, 
as  one  whose  plans  and  purposes  had  miscarried. 

"  Good  avenin',  sor,"  said  Phelim,  lifting  his 
hat  as  they  passed. 

Himes  started  and  turned  his  head,  for  the 
Irishman  was  already  somewhat  in  his  rear. 

"  Hollo  !  is  that  you,  O'Rourke?"  he  called. 
"Come  back,  will  you  ?  I  want  a  word  with 
you." 

Phelim  was  at  his  horse's  side  in  an  instant, 
asking,  "  What's  your  wull,  sor?" 

'  I've*  a  job  on  hand,  and  want  help  with  it ; 
could  you  come  and  take  a  hand  at  it  for  a  day 
or  two  ?' ' 

"  Sure,  sor,  if  I  knowed  what  it  was  I  cud 
aisier  tell  that  same." 

"  It's  the  making  of  a  raft  over  yonder  on  the 
river-bank  ;  't won't  take  much  knowledge  be- 
yond how  to  wield  an  axe  and  hammer  in  nails, 
and  ye're  not  wantin'  in  that  or  in  strength." 

"  Well,  sor,  I'll  drame  on  it  the  night  an'  lat 
yces  know  in  the  mornin',"  Phelim  answered, 
turning  to  go. 


98     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

'  Wait  a  minute,"  Himes  said.  "  If  ye  can 
bring  one  or  two  more  fellows  with  you,  it'll  be 
all  the  better  ;  we'll  get  through  the  sooner, 
and  that'll  suit  me  first-rate,  for  I'm  gettin'  in 
a  big  hurry  to  be  off/' 

'  Where,  sor,  if  I  may  be  so  bould  ?" 

"  Down  the  river,  clear  out  o'  this  State, 
where  the  laws  are  not  severe  enough  on  burg- 
lars and  cut-throats  to  make  honest  folks  feel 
that  their  lives  and  property  are  tolerable 
safe." 

'  Thin,  sor,  beggin'  yer  pardin  fer  the  lib- 
erty, ye'd  betther  kape  it  close  that  yer  manin' 
to  thravel  in  sich  a  unpertected  manner." 

"  Of  course  you  needn't  blab  about  it ;  but 
I'll  have  a  loaded  revolver,  and  if  the  rascals 
come,  I'll  show  them  that  I  know  how  to  pro- 
tect myself." 

"  Gettin'  in  a  big  hurry,  indade  !"  chuckled 
Phelim,  as  he  trudged  on  again.  "  He  don't 
know  what  fer." 

There  was  a  meeting  of  the  band  of  villains 
that  night,  when  all  was  arranged  for  the  carry- 
ing out  of  O'Rourke's  atrocious  designs  upon 
the  old  farmer. 

The  next  morning,  as  Himes  and  his  wife 
rose  from  the  breakfast-table,  a  big,  burly  Ger- 
man presented  himself  before  the  open  kitchen 
door. 

"  Goot  tay,  mynheer,"  he  said,  touching  his 
cap  ;  "  I  vas  shoost  looking  for  a  chob  ov  vork, 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    99 

to  makes  te  monish  to  pay  for  de  wittles  and 
de  clo'es.  I  vil  do  any  tings  you  vil  haf  to  be 
tun." 

Himes  asked  a  few  questions  as  to  his  qualifi- 
cations for  the  work  of  raft- making  and  the 
wages  he  expected,  and  receiving  satisfactory 
replies,  engaged  him  at  once. 

As  Himes  stepped  out  into  the  dooryard, 
having  directed  the  new-comer  to  take  a  seat  at 
the  table,  and  Belinda  set  his  breakfast  before 
him,  a  sly  wink  let  her  into  the  secret  that  here 
was  one  of  the  accomplices  of  the  would-be 
assassin  of  her  husband. 

She  started,  and  turned  pale  ;  but  averting 
her  eyes,  went  on  silently  with  her  work,  though 
her  heart  beat  fast  with  terror  and  was  heavy 
with  remorse,  yet  not  with  a  repentance  that 
would  lead  her  to  draw  back,  ere  it  was  too 
late,  from  her  promised  share  in  the  commis- 
sion of  the  fearful  crime. 

Her  heart  did  relent  more  than  once  during 
the  intervening  time,  and  she  was  again  and 
again  on  the  point  of  giving  the  old  man  a  hint 
of  his  danger.  But  then  how  to  do  so  without 
compromising  Phelim's  safety,  and  even  her 
own,  she  could  not  see  ;  and  besides  Himes 
treated  her  in  the  presence  of  these  strange  men 
(for  Phelim  arrived  in  the  course  of  the  morn- 
ing, bringing  McManus  with  him)  with  scorn, 
contempt,  and  lordly  assumption  of  author- 
ity which  deeply  humiliated  her,  and  kindled 


100      THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

anew  the  smouldering  fires  of  hatred  and  re- 
venge that  burned  in  her  breast.  There  were 
stolen  interviews  with  Phelim,  too,  in  which 
he  artfully  added  fuel  to  the  flame,  and  thus 
kept  her  to  her  resolve. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

AT  length  all  was  done — the  raft  finished,  all 
the  goods  and  chattels  belonging  to  the 
ill-assorted  pair  placed  upon  it,  and  they  fully 
prepared  for  their  voyage. 

It  was  past  noon  when  they  found  themselves 
in  this  state  of  readiness,  and  the  question  was 
raised  whether  it  would  not  be  the  wiser  plan 
to  remain  where  they  were  until  morning,  and 
begin  the  journey  with  the  new  day. 

Kindly  offers  of  hospitable  entertainment 
were  made  by  more  than  one  neighbor,  but 
Mr.  Himes  refused  to  consent  to  the  least  de- 
lay. They  could  travel  several  miles  before 
sundown,  he  said,  and  it  would  be  just  so  much 
gained. 

This  suited  the  conspirators  exactly.  Mc- 
Manus  had  been  engaged  to  assist  in  propelling 
the  raft ;  he  would  see  that  it  was  moored  for 
the  night  at  a  spot  which  they  had  selected  as 
well  fitted  to  be  the  scene  of  their  intended 
crime — a  lonely  and  secluded  place  some  six  or 
seven  miles  down  the  river. 

Belinda  stumbled  in  stepping  aboard,  and 
had  nearly  fallen  into  the  water. 

' '  The  very  awkwardest  critter  I  ever  see  !" 


102      THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

was  the  sneering  remark  of  her  husband,  as  he 
caught  her  by  the  arm  and  saved  her  from  a 
wetting. 

Phelim,  standing  near,  muttered  a  curse 
under  his  breath,  but  the  woman  bore  the  re- 
buke in  silence.  A  vision  of  her  reprover  lying 
there  stiff  and  stark,  with  fast  glazing  eyes  and 
gray  hairs  all  dabbled  in  blood,  seemed  to  come 
before  her,  and  she  had  no  heart  to  resent  his 
unkindness — could  scarce  refrain  even  now 
from  shrieking  out  to  him  to  beware  of  these 
men,  for  they  were  seeking  his  life. 

She  sat  pale  and  trembling  while  they  loosed 
from  the  shore  and  dropped  slowly  down  the 
stream,  McManus  laughing  and  exchanging 
coarse  jests  with  his  intended  victim,  while  his 
two  accomplices  waved  their  hats,  cheered  the 
departing  voyagers,  and  shouting  good-bye, 
turned  and  walked  rapidly  away  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  highroad. 

Belinda  followed  them  with  her  eyes  till  dis- 
tance and  intervening  trees  shut  out  the  sight ; 
then,  utterly  oblivious  of  everything  but  her 
own  guilty,  miserable  thoughts  and  fears,  drop- 
ped her  face  into  her  hands  with  a  shudder  and 
a  sigh  that  was  half  a  moan. 

"  Frettin'  arter  that  there  handsome  young 
Irishman,  be  ye,  eh  ?"  sneered  Himes's  voice 
close  at  her  side.  ' '  Well,  ye  needn't ;  ye  won't 
never  see  him  no  more.  I  begun  to  suspect, 
this  last  day  or  two,  that  ye  had  most  too  big  a 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.      103 

likin'  fer  each  other,  and  I'll  look  out  that  he 
don't  git  near  ye  again." 

She  made  no  reply,  nor  even  lifted  her  head  ; 
and  after  regarding  her  a  moment  with  silent 
scorn,  he  walked  away  to  the  other  side  of  the 
raft. 

Subsequently  he  twitted  her  several  times  on 
her  excessive  pallor,  her  silence  and  abstrac- 
tion, attributing  them  to  the  fright  of  her  nar- 
row escape  from  falling  into  the  river,  and  tell- 
ing her  she  was  an  arrant  coward,  even  for  a 
woman. 

44  Oh,  do  let  me  alone  !"  she  said  at  length, 
wearily.  <4  You  seem  determined  to  make  me 
hate  the  very  sight  of  you,  the  very  sound  of 
your  voice." 

"And  what  do  I  care  if  you  do?"  he  re- 
turned, with  a  mocking  laugh  ;  4<  you  can't  get 
away  from  me,  and  I  ain't  afeard  o'  you." 

44  Go  away  !  go  away  !"  she  cried,  covering 
her  ears  with  her  hands  and  turning  her  back 
upon  him,  while  she  shuddered  from  head  to 
foot  and  her  face  grew  ghastly  in  the  dim  light, 
for  the  sun  had  set  and  darkness  was  slowly 
creeping  over  the  earth. 

He  lighted  his  pipe,  turned  from  her  with  an 
air  of  supreme  indifference,  and  passing  around 
to  the  farther  side  of  the  rude  cabin,  which  oc- 
cupied the  centre  of  the  raft,  sat  down  for  the 
smoke  with  which  he  was  accustomed  to  finish 
the  day,  little  dreaming  that  it  might  be  his  last. 


104      THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

She  sat  where  he  had  left  her,  with  her 
elbows  on  her  knees,  her  face  in  her  hands,  her 
mind  in  a  tumult  of  horror,  fear,  and  remorse, 
mingled  with  an  intense  hatred  and  disgust 
toward  him,  the  man  to  whose  destiny  she  had 
voluntarily  linked  her  own  for  life. 

But  she  could  not  contemplate  without  a 
shudder  the  cruel  fate  awaiting  him.  "  Why 
should  he  be  slain  ?"  she  asked  herself.  Phelim 
wanted  her  and  the  money  ;  let  him  take  both 
and  carry  them  away,  but  spare  the  old  man's 
life — spare  himself  the  staining  of  his  hands 
with  innocent  blood.  The  crime  would  be 
great  enough  without  that. 

The  raft  was  now  moored  to  the  shore.  She 
lifted  her  head.  How  quiet  everything  was  ! 
not  a  sound  to  break  the  almost  oppressive  still- 
ness save  the  slight  ripple  of  the  water  at  her 
feet,  and  the  evening  song  of  the  frogs.  There 
was  not  a  house,  road,  fence,  or  any  other  sign 
of  man's  occupancy  within  sight,  but  on  the  top 
of  a  slope  not  far  away  a  solitary  figure  stood 
out  in  relief  against  the  sky  for  a  single  instant, 
then  vanished.  They  were  there  waiting  for — 
what  ?  To  murder  an  innocent  old  man  in  his 
sleep,  and  possess  themselves  of  his  hard- 
earned  savings. 

Some  one  drew  cautiously  near  and  touched 
her  on  the  shoulder. 

"  The  byes  is  there,"  whispered  McManus, 
"-an'  ye  mustn't  be  afther  betray  in'  us.  I  was 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     105- 

feart  more'n  oncet  yer  white  face  an'  shakin' 
hands  ud  give  'im  warnin*.  Ye  know  we  ain't 
a  goin'  to  harrum  ye— no,  niver  a  bit  av  it.  He 
thrates  ye  loike  a  brute  baste,  he  does,  the  ras- 
kil  ;  but  Phalim  ull  be  good  till  ye,  an'  mak'  ye 
a  rich  lady  wan  o'  these  days.  I'm  a  goin'  to 
lie  down  and  slape  a  bit,  an'  ye'cl  betther  thry 
the  same,  fer  they'll  not  be  comin'  till  toward 
mornin',  whan  folks  slapes  the  soundest.  Ye'll 
moind  ye  don't  do  nothin'  to  rouse  the  ould 
man's  suspicions  !" 

"  I  hate  him  !  You  may  trust  me,"  she  an- 
swered, in  low,  husky  tones,  without  lifting  her 
head  or  looking  round. 

He  went  away,  and  again  she  was  left  to  the 
companionship  of  her  own  thoughts.  Con- 
science was  loud  in  its  upbraidings.  What  was 
she  doing  ?  What  would  be  the  end  of  all  this  ? 
Even  should  she  escape  the  strong  hand  of  the 
law,  would  not  the  spectre  of  the  old  man  with 
his  gray  locks  all  dabbled  in  blood  haunt  her  all 
her  life  ? 

And  he  had  been  good  to  her  once — before 
she  alienated  his  affections  by  her  slatternly, 
careless  ways  and  indifference  to  his  comfort. 

She  could  not  look  upon  his  death  ;  she  must 
make  an  effort  to  save  him,  but  without  betray- 
ing his  would-be  assassins.  She  rose  and  crept 
around  to  the  place  where  he  sat.  She  crouched 
at  his  side. 

"  Don't  let  us  stay  here  to-night,"  she  said, 


106    THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

in  a  hoarse  whisper  ;  "  let  us  go  ashore  and  get 
lodging  in  some  house.  You  have  money,  and 
those  burglars  may  have  got  a  hint  of  it  ;  they 
always  do  find  out  somehow,  and  they  may 
come  on  us  in  the  night  and— 

He  interrupted  her.  '  There  !  I  knowed  ye 
was  a  coward  ;  but  I'm  not.  Let  'em  come. 
I'm  ready  for  'em." 

She  drew  away  from  him  in  discouragement 
and  disgust.  Where  was  the  use  of  trying  to 
save  so  besotted  a  fool — one  who  seemed  bent 
on  his  own  destruction  ?  If  he  perished  that 
night  by  the  hand  of  violence,  it  would  not  be 
her  fault,  She  had  done  all  she  could  ;  for  any 
further  effort,  any  plainer  speech  would  expose 
herself  to  suspicion  and  violence  from  him. 

She  went  back  to  her  former  station  on  the 
other  side  of  the  raft,  and  resuming  the  old 
posture,  with  her  elbows  on  her  knees  and  her 
face  in  her  hands,  tried  to  steel  herself  to  the 
coming  fate  of  the  man  who  was  so  persistently 
abusive  to  her. 

But  in  vain  ;  it  was  too  horrible  ;  and  she 
could  not  forget  that  she  had  consented  to  it. 
Yet  what  more  could  she  do  ?  Ah  !  could  she 
herself  rob  him  before  the  burglars  came,  and 
steal  away  with  the  money  to  Phelim,  he 
surely  would  consent  to  run  away  with  her 
and  it,  and  leave  the  old  dotard  his  life.  Surely 
it  would  be  much  the  better  plan  for  all ;  but 
how  to  accomplish  it  ?  for  Himes  had  his  money 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     107 

in  a  belt  which  he  wore  day  and  night  about  his 
waist. 

He  had  finished  his  pipe,  and  she  heard  him 
retire  to  the  cabin.  When  she  thought  suffi- 
cient time  had  elapsed  for  him  to  be  sound 
asleep  she  crept  softly  in  and  stretched  herself 
by  his  side — for  the  last  time  !  Oh,  what  an 
awaking  his  would  be  !  She  could  not  sleep  ; 
her  heart  beat  almost  to  suffocation,  and  she 
trembled  like  an  aspen  leaf. 

At  length,  when  his  perfect  stillness  and  regu- 
lar breathing  seemed  to  speak  of  profound  slum- 
ber, she  cautiously  put  out  her  hand  and 
touched  the  belt. 

He  started  up  instantly,  asking,  with  an  oath, 
' '  What's  that  fer  ?  what  are  ye  after  ?  would 
ye  dare  to  rob  me  ?" 

"No;  why  should  I?  ain't  I  your  wife?" 
she  asked,  bitterly.  '  But  I  want  you  to  take 
it  off  and  hide  it  somewhere.  You'd  better  lose 
yer  money  than  it  and  yer  life  too.  If  they 
come  they'll  have  it  at  all  costs  ;  and  if  it's  on 
you,  they'll  kill  you  to  get  it." 

Twon't  be  no  great  loss  to  you  if  they  do  ; 
you'd  like  to  be  a  gay  young  widder — you 
needn't  deny  it,"  he  said,  with  a  sneer.  "  I'll 
resk  it,  anyhow  ;  and  don't  you  touch  my  belt 
agin." 

It  was  her  last  effort  to  save  him.  Oh,  how 
long  the  hours  seemed  while  she  waited  !  yet 
how  gladly  she  would  have  detained  them  in 


io8      THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

their  flight,  that  thus  the  coming  of  the  dreaded 
event  might  be  retarded. 

She  had  at  last  fallen  jnto  a  doze  when  a  hand 
touched  her,  and  Phelim's  voice  whispered  in 
her  ear,  "  Go  !  lave  the  ould  divil  to  us  ;  we'll 
take  care  o'  'im.  Run  an'  give  the  alarum,  but 
don't  ye  be  in  too  big  a  hurry." 

She  was  on  her  feet  before  he  had  finished  his 
sentence.  Himes,  too,  had  roused  and  started 
up.  She  heard  the  two  grapple  with  oaths  and 
curses  as  she  dashed  out  of  the  cabin  through 
the  midst  of  a  group  of  dark  forms  that  stepped 
aside  to  let  her  pass,  and  sprang  ashore. 

She  ran  a  few  paces,  then  paused  for  breath, 
pressing  her  hand  upon  her  wildly  beating 
heart.  Her  husband's  voice  came  to  her  in  an 
agonized  shriek  :  "  Help  !  help  !  murder  !  mur- 
der !"  with  it  the  sharp  report  of  a  pistol,  and 
echoing  the  cry,  she  sped  onward,  fear,  horror, 
and  remorse  quickening  her  flight. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

AT  the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  for 
the  Union,  Warren  Charlton  was  a  rising 
young  lawyer  in  Fairfield,  a  town  situated,  like 
Prairieville,  in  Wild  River  Valley,  but  some 
miles  farther  up  the  stream.  On  his  return 
from  the  war  he  had  established  himself  in  Prai- 
rieville, much  to  the  disgust  and  ire  of  Bangs, 
who  looked  upon  Charlton  as  a  dangerous  rival 
in  business,  as  also  in  love  ;  and  he  was  proving 
himself  such,  building  up  a  fine  and  lucrative 
practice  there  and  in  the  surrounding  country. 

Some  of  his  old  clients  still  preferred  him  to 
his  successors  in  Fairfield,  and  when  they  had 
important  business  requiring  legal  advice,  would 
come  to  or  send  for  him  to  attend  to  it. 

And  Dr.  Jasper,  having  attained  to  the  repu- 
tation of  being  the  most  skilful  physician  and 
surgeon  in  all  that  region  of  country,  was  not 
infrequently  summoned  thither,  and  to  other 
like  distant  points,  in  cases  of  severe  sickness 
or  serious  accident. 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  that  saw  the  em- 
barkation of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Himes,  both  these 
gentlemen  had  received  an  urgent  call  to  the 
vicinity  of  Fairfield.  A  man  of  property  had 


no      THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

been  thrown  from  his  carriage  and  seriously  in- 
jured. His  recovery  was  doubtful,  and  a  will 
was  to  be  made,  while  at  the  same  time  every 
effort  put  forth  to  save  his  life. 

The  town  was  not  on  the  line  of  the  railroad, 
nor  was  the  residence  of  Mr.  Connor,  the  in- 
jured man.  It  lay  beyond  Fairfield  and  near 
the  river.  So  the  two  gentlemen  drove  over 
together. 

They  found  the  patient  dangerously  hurt,  but 
in  full  possession  of  his  mental  powers.  Physi- 
cian and  lawyer  were  in  attendance  upon  him 
together  or  by  turns  through  the  remainder  of 
that  day  and  the  following  night. 

Toward  morning  he  slept  under  the  influence 
of  an  opiate  administered  to  deaden  the  sense  of 
pain.  Then  the  doctor  withdrew  from  the 
room,  leaving  him  in  the  care  of  his  wife  and 
daughter,  and  passing  out  upon  the  front  porch, 
joined  the  captain,  who  was  slowly  pacing  it  to 
and  fro. 

"  Any  change  ?"  Charlton  asked,  stopping  in 
his  walk. 

'  Yes,  for  the  better  ;  I  have  strong  hope 
that  he  will  recover.  How  are  you  progress- 
ing with  your  work  ?" 

'  I  have  finished  ;  nothing  is  wanting  now 
but  Mr.  Connor's  signature." 

11  I  think  he  will  be  able  to  add  it  when  he 
wakes,"  the  doctor  said  ;  "  he  is  sleeping  now. 
Hark  !  what  was  that  ?" 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    Ill 

44  A  pistol  shot  and  a  cry  for  help  !"  ex- 
claimed the  captain.  '  It  came  from  the  direc- 
tion of  the  river,  did  it  not  ?  Some  one  is,  per- 
haps, in  deadly  peril.  Let  us  go  to  the  rescue. 
I  have  a  loaded  revolver  on  the  table  in  the 
room  yonder.  It's  hardly  safe  to  be  without  one 
in  these  times  of  continual  burglaries." 

14  No  ;  I  carry  one  constantly  in  travelling 
about  the  country  roads,"  the  doctor  said  ;  and 
as  the  words  left  his  lips  two  young  men  be- 
longing to  the  family  came  rushing  out,  excit- 
edly, but  with  care  to  make  no  noise. 

14  Did  you  gentlemen  hear  that  shot  and  cry 
lor  help?"  they  asked,  one  of  them  adding, 
4  That  band  of  burglars  is  after  old  Himes  and 
his  money,  I'm  afraid.  I  heard  he'd  started 
down  the  river  on  a  raft  and  moored  for  the 
night  about  half  a  mile  below  here." 

There  was  a  hasty  consultation  and  gathering 
up  of  weapons  ;  then  the  four  set  off  on  a  run 
for  the  river,  intending  to  follow  its  course  till 
they  should  reach  the  probable  scene  of  con- 
flict. 

But  before  they  had  traversed  half  the  dis- 
tance a  woman  came  rushing  wildly  toward 
them,  shrieking  for  help. 

"  Who?  where?  what?"  they  asked. 

"  Mr.  Himes— my  husband  !"  she  panted. 
"  Oh,  make  haste  !  they're  killing  him  !" 

14  Show  us  the  way,"  said  Dr.  Jasper  ;  "  lead 
on,  and  we'll  follow." 


112      THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

She  turned  and  retraced  her  steps,  almost  fly- 
ing over  the  ground,  so  that  they  had  some 
difficulty  in  keeping  up  with  her. 

Day  was  faintly  dawning  in  the  east,  and  as 
they  neared  the  spot  they  could  see  the  out- 
lines of  the  raft  where  it  lay  on  the  water,  then 
several  dark  figures  leap  ashore  from  it  and  flee 
swiftly  in  a  direction  opposite  to  that  frorn 
which  they  were  approaching. 

One  of  the  young  men  sent  a  shot  after  them> 
but  without  effect,  the  light  being  insufficient 
for  certain  aim.  All  was  darkness  and  silence 
on  the  raft. 

"  Oh,  we're  too  late  !  they've  killed  him  !" 
exclaimed  Belinda,  with  a  hysterical  sob. 

"  Perhaps  not,"  said  the  doctor,  stepping  cau- 
tiously aboard,  the  others  following.  "  Can 
you  get  a  light  ?" 

"  There  was  a  candle  and  matches  on  a 
shelf  in  the  cabin  there,  close  to  the  door/'  she 
answered,  in  a  shaking  voice.  "  Get  them 
yourselves  ;  I  can't  go  in  there  to  look  at — " 

"  No  need  ;  here  they  are,"  he  said,  in  a  low, 
excited  tone,  having  already  stepped  to  the 
door  and  laid  his  hand  upon  them. 

He  struck  a  match,  lighted  the  candle,  and 
glanced  about  the  tiny  apartment,  the  other 
men  pressing  up  behind  him  and  looking  over 
his  shoulder. 

A  shudder  ran  through  the  little  group,  and 
a  low  exclamation  of  horror  burst  from  the  lips 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     113 

of  the  young  Connors  ;  but  the  doctor  and  the 
captain,  inured  to  scenes  of  blood  and  carnage 
by  their  experiences  in  the  late  war,  viewed 
this  one  in  awed  silence.  Yet  only  for  an  in- 
stant. 

"  Life  may  not  be  extinct  !"  exclaimed  the 
doctor,  hastily  setting  down  the  light  and  stoop- 
ing over  the  prostrate,  bleeding,  and  apparent- 
ly lifeless  form  of  the  old  man. 

Belinda,  lingering  on  the  outside  of  the 
group,  overheard  the  words  with  strangely 
mingled  relief  and  terror.  To  think  that  he 
had  been  murdered  was  so  horrible  ;  yet  if  he 
were  still  alive  and  should  recover  conscious- 
ness and  the  power  of  speech  !  Ah,  who  could 
tell  how  much  he  knew  or  would  be  able  to  re- 
veal of  her  complicity  in  the  crime  ?  Trem- 
bling and  half  fainting  with  fright  she  clutched 
at  the  wall  of  the  cabin  to  keep  from  falling. 

Her  first  impulse  was  to  flee  ;  but  a  second 
thought  told  her  that  would  but  confirm  the 
suspicion  of  her  guilt,  were  such  once  set  afloat, 
while  if  she  remained  and  bore  herself  with  an 
air  of  innocence,  the  fact  that  she  had  promptly 
summoned  Assistance  would  be  strong  evidence 
in  her  favor. 

She  dropped  down  upon  the  floor,  and  lean- 
ing her  head  against  the  wall,  listened  intently 
for  further  sounds  from  within,  though  her 
hear.t  was  beating  so  loud  that  it  seemed  as  if 
she  could  hear  nothing  else. 


114    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

"  He  lives  !  he  is  reviving  !"  were  the  next 
words  that  reached  her  ear  after  what  had 
seemed  hours  of  waiting,  though  in  reality  but 
a  very  few  moments  had  passed. 

Then  the  old  man  spoke,  feebly,  tremulously, 
but  quite  distinctly.  "  He  thought  he'd  fin- 
ished me,  the  scoundrel  !  Run,  somebody,  and 
catch  him  !  It's  Phelim  O'Rourke  ;  he's  robbed 
me  !  he's  got  it  all  !"  feeling  for  the  belt  he  had 
worn  about  his  waist,  "  And  she — she's  hand 
and  glove  with  him — curse  her  !  take  her  too, 
and  let  the  law  deal  with  'em  both  !" 

"  Who  ?"  asked  one  of  the  bystanders. 

"  B'lindy — my  Judas  of  a  wife  !  She's  be- 
trayed me  into  the  hands  o'  them  burglars." 

He  paused,  panting  for  breath,  while  the  doc- 
tor said,  soothingly,  "  I  think  you  are  mistaken. 
She  has  saved  your  life  by  bringing  us  here  to 
your  aid." 

44  Humph  !"  grunted  the  old  man,  incredu- 
lously. Then,  impatiently,  and  struggling  to 
rise,  4<  Why  don't  ye  run  and  ketch  the  rob- 
bers, some  o'  ye  ?  they'll  git  away  with  every 
cent  I  had." 

11  It  shall  be  attended  to/'  said  the  doctor  ; 
"  but  you  must  stop  talking,  if  you  want  to  live 
to  bring  them  to  justice." 

"  I'm  off  after  the  sheriff  and  a  posse  of  men 
to  pursue  them  as  fast  as  possible  !"  cried  one 
of  the  young  men,  springing  ashore. 

His  brother  was  about  to  follow,  but  the  doc- 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     115 

tor  detained  him.  "  We  must  have  help  to 
carry  Mr.  Himes  to  some  place  where  he  can 
have  the  care  and  nursing  he  is  likely  to  need 
for  days  or  weeks  to  come." 

"  He'll  have  to  be  taken  on  a  litter  ?" 

11  Yes,  certainly  ;  he  is  too  weak  for  any  other 
mode  of  conveyance." 

"  I'll  see  to  it ;  I'll  have  two  or  three  more 
men  here  before  I'm  an  hour  older,  or  my 
name's  not  Bob  Connor  !"  and  away  he  sped 
toward  the  town. 

Charlton  stepped  out  from  the  cabin,  leaving 
Dr.  Jasper  alone  with  the  wounded  man. 

At  the  sound  of  his  step  Belinda  lifted  her 
head.  "  Is  there  anything  I  can  do  to  help, 
sir?"  she  asked,  in  a  shaking  voice. 

"I  think  not,"  he  replied;  "and  I  should 
judge  it  best  for  you  to  keep  out  of  his  sight  for 
a  while,  as  the  excitement  of  seeing  you  might 
prove  injurious." 

"  Yes,  I  s'pose  so,"  she  said,  gloomily,  and 
averting  her  face.  "  Where'll  he  be  took  to  ?" 

"  The  tavern  in  Fairfield,  I  presume  ;  I  know 
of  no  more  suitable  place — do  you  ?" 

"  No  ;  we  hain't  got  no  home  no  more.  I 
told  him  'twas  a  fool  thing  to  sell  it ;  but  of 
course  he  thought  I  didn't  know  nothin*  ;  but 
if  he'd  done  as  I  said,  this  awful  thing  wouldn't 
never  a  happened." 

44  No,  I  presume  not ;  and  I  think  myself  it 
was  a  foolhardy  thing  to  attempt  to  go  down 


II 6     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

the  river  in  this  way,  particularly  with  such  a 
sum  of  money  on  board,  and  in  the  face  of  the 
fact  that  so  many  burglaries  have  been  com- 
mitted in  the  neighborhood  of  late." 

11  I  wisht  he  a  been  wiser,"  she  sighed, 
dropping  her  face  into  her  hands;  "but  I'll 
nurse  him  out  o'  this  ov  he'll  let  me." 

The  captain  suggested  that  she  could  at  least 
gather  up  his  clothing  and  such  other  things  as 
would  be  needed  for  his  comfort  while  ill. 

She  said  she  would  stay  behind  and  do  so  when 
they  carried  him  away,  then  follow  to  the  hotel 
with  the  things  ;  she  knew  the  way  quite  well. 
'  You  were  by  when  the  attack  was  made  ?" 
Charlton  presently  remarked,  interrogatively. 
"  I  hope  you  may  be  able  to  testify  to  the  iden- 
tity of  the  would-be  murderers  ?" 

She  started  and  trembled  afresh.  "  I — I 
didn't  see  one  o'  their  faces,"  she  said.  "  How 
could  I  ?  'twas  dark  as  pitch." 

"  O'Rourke  was  employed  by- Mr.  Himes  for 
several  weeks,  I  know  ;  and  you  may  have 
been  able  to  recognize  his  voice." 

"  He — I  mean  thefellar  that  come  in  the  cabin 
where  we  was  sleepin' — didn't  say  a  word,  only 
grabbed  Himes — to  git  a  holt  6'  the  belt  he  kep' 
his  money  in,  I  s'pose — and  Himes  he  begun  to 
screech  murder  !  an'  I  cut  an'  run  fer  help  hard 
as  ever  I  could,"  she  said,  in  a  sullen  tone. 
"  He  kin  say  whatsomever  he's  a  mind  to  ;  I 
hadn't  nothin'  to  do  with  the  affair." 


THE  TRAGEDY  OJ<'  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.    117 

"  I  hope  not,  indeed,"  returned  the  captain  ; 
"  and  I  trust  you  will  be  ready  to  do  what  you 
can  to  bring  the  scoundrels  to  justice." 

She  made  no  response  to  that,  but  presently 
rose  and  went  around  to  the  other  side  of  the 
raft,  where  she  remained  out  of  sight  till  the 
wounded  man  had  been  carried  away. 

The  town,  situated  a  mile  or  more  farther 
up  the  river,  could  be  reached  by  travers- 
ing half  that  distance  by  land.  Taking  that 
route,  Mr.  Himes's  bearers  bore  him  thither, 
stepping  carefully  to  avoid  jolting  him. 

The  news  of  the  attack  upon  him  had  spread 
like  wildfire,  and  early  as  was  the  hour,  the 
streets  were  full  of  people— men,  women,  and 
children — eager  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  his  fea- 
tures as  he  was  carried  past,  and  to  learn  every 
particular  of  the  affair.  Many  of  them,  falling 
into  line  behind  the  litter,  followed  it  to  the 
outer  door  of  the  tavern,  and  would  have  even 
pressed  into  the  room  to  which  he  was  finally 
taken  had  not  the  doctor  positively  forbidden  it 
and  resolutely  shut  the  door  in  their  faces. 

All  was  still  excitement  in  and  about  the 
building  when  the  stage  from  Frederic  drove 
up. 

11  Stop  here  for  breakfast,"  the  driver  called 
out,  laconically,  to  his  passengers  as  he  reined 
in  his  horses  and  sprang  to  the  ground.  Then 
holding  the  lines  in  one  hand,  he  opened  the 
door  of  the  stage  with  the  other. 


n8    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

Several  men  alighted,  one  of  them  hailing  the 
landlord  : 

"  Hello,  Strong,  what's  up  ?" 

"Why,  hello,  Smith!  how  d'y  do?"  re- 
turned mine  host,  stepping  briskly  forward  and 
shaking  hands.  ' '  Glad  to  see  you.  But  haven't 
ye  heard  the  news  ?  Old  Farmer  Himes,  sim- 
pleton that  he  was  to  be  travelling  down  the 
river  on  a  raft,  was  attacked  by  the  burglars 
last  night — or,  rather,  early  this  morning  I  sup- 
pose it  was — and  pretty  nigh  murdered.  Dr. 
Jasper's  been  working  with  him  for  the  last  two 
hours  ;  he's  in  there  now,"  nodding  his  head 
in  the  direction  of  the  room  where  the  wounded 
man  lay,  "  but  I  reckon  he'll  bring  him  round." 

A  stranger  standing  at  Smith's  side  started 
slightly  at  the  mention  of  the  doctor's  name, 
and,  fixing  his  eyes  on  the  speaker,  listened  in- 
tently as  he  went  on  to  give  a  detailed  account 
of  the  nature  and  extent  of  Himes's  hurts,  and 
what  had  been  done  for  his  relief.  "  Ah,  here 
comes  the  doc  himself !"  he  exclaimed,  pausing 
in  his  narrative  as  a  gentleman  stepped  from  the 
doorway  into  their  midst.  "  How's  your  pa- 
tient, doc  ?" 

"  Doing  as  well  as  could  reasonably  be  ex- 
pected, Mr.  Strong,"  returned  Dr.  Jasper, 
quietly,  but  as  one  in  some  haste.  "  Not  well 
enough  for  me  to  leave  him  to-day,"  he  added, 
"  and  I  must  send  a  telegram  to  my  wife,  lest 
she  should  be  anxious  at  not  seeing  me." 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     119 

"  Got  it  ready,  I  see,"  said  Strong,  noticing 
that  the  doctor  held  a  slip  of  paper  in  his  fin- 
gers. "  Just  give  it  to  me,  and  I'll  have  it  sent 
right  away.  Now  walk  in  to  breakfast,  gentle- 
men— all  of  you  ;  it's  on  the  table,  smoking 
hot." 

All  this  time  the  stranger  had  eyed  Dr.  Jas- 
per askance,  and  now  taking  a  seat  nearly  op- 
posite him  at  the  table,  he  continued  to  do  so 
during  the  meal. 

The  doctor  did  not  seem  to  perceive  the 
scrutiny  to  which  he  was  being  subjected,  but 
ate  as  one  whose  thoughts  were  preoccupied 
with  something  else  than  his  immediate  sur- 
roundings or  the  food  of  which  he  was  partak- 
ing. 

Naturally  the  talk  at  the  table  ran  principally 
on  the  startling  event  of  a  few  hours  previous  ; 
but  the  doctor  took  no  part  in  it,  except  when 
directly  addressed  by  remark  or  query. 

Presently  the  announcement,  "  Stage  for 
Prairieville  leaves  in  five  minutes  !"  sent  sev- 
eral persons,  including  the  stranger  who  had  so 
persistently  eyed  the  doctor,  hurrying  out. 

Dr.  Jasper  rose  the  next  moment,  and  was 
passing  through  the  hall  on  his  way  to  his  pa- 
tient, when  the  driver  slammed  the  door  to 
upon  his  passengers,  the  stranger  leaning  eager- 
ly forward  to  catch  a  last  glimpse  of  the  physi- 
cian. 

"  You  appear  to  take  considerable  interest  in 


120     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY. 

Dr.  Jasper,  sir,"  remarked  Smith,  eyeing  the 
man*  with  a  quizzical  look,  as  the  driver  vaulted 
to  his  elevated  seat  and  took  up  the  reins. 

'  Yes  ;  I've  heard  him  spoken  of,"  was  the 
reply. 

"  Nothing  bad,  I'll  venture  to  say  ;  he's  well 
thought  of  in  these  parts,"  remarked  Smith, 
with  emphasis. 

But  the  stranger  was  gazing  from  the  win- 
dow, as  they  whirled  rapidly  down  the  street, 
and  paid  no  attention  to  the  remark. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

IT  was  a  bright  June  morning,  redolent  of  the 
breath  of  roses  and  honeysuckle  in  full 
bloom,  swe,et  with  the  songs  of  birds  ;  and  no- 
where sweeter  or  lovelier  than  at  Lakeside, 
where  gentle  breezes  sighed  in  the  tree-tops  and 
glad  sunbeams  danced  on  the  waters  of  the  lake. 

The  grandmother's  face  expressed  placid  con- 
tentment as  she  went  about  her  daily  round  of 
household  duties  ;  Ronald  was  in  almost  gay 
spirits,  averring  that  he  had  not  felt  so  well  at 
any  time  before  since  receiving  his  wounds  ; 
the  children  were  full  of  mirth  and  jollity,  run- 
ning hither  and  thither  about  the  garden  and 
lawn,  gathering  flowers  for  the  parlor  vases, 
feeding  the  chickens,  hunting  eggs  in  the  barn, 
and  doing  various  little  services  for  the  older 
members  of  the  family.  Their  sister  noticed 
their  efforts  with  smiles  and  words  of  com- 
mendation, talked  cheerfully,  even  gayly,  to 
her  grandmother  and  Ronald,  and  went  about 
attending  to  her  many  duties  and  responsibili- 
ties in  her  usual  prompt  and  energetic  fashion  ; 
yet  her  heart  was  heavy  and  her  cheek  pale. 

11  Miriam,  dear  child,"  Mrs.  Heath  said  at 
length,  "  you  are  not  well." 


122     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

"  I'm  not  sick,  granny  dear,"  was  the  smil- 
ing rejoinder;  "  a  slight  headache  is  all  that  ails 
me,  and  a  walk  will  relieve  it,  I  think  ;  so,  as  a 
few  things  are  wanted  from  the  stores,  and  I 
can  be  spared  from  the  field,  I'm  going  into 
town." 

"  That's  right,"  responded  her  grandmother  ; 
"  and  don't  hurry  yourself,  for  it's  early,  and 
you'll  have  plenty  of  time  to  walk  leisurely — 
to  call  on  Mrs.  Jasper,  too  ;  and  I  wish  you 
would,  for  we  haven't  heard  or  seen  anything 
of  her  or  the  doctor  for  some  days." 

"  I  shall  if  I  have  time,  grandma,"  replied 
Miriam,  drawing  on  her  gloves — for  she  had 
just  entered  the  room  attired  for  her  walk.  '  I 
am  very  fond  of  Serena,  as  you  know,  and  a 
talk  with  her  is  always  a  real  treat." 

She  did  her  errands  first,  then  turned  in  the 
direction  of  Dr.  Jasper's  pretty  vine-covered 
and  rose-embowered  cottage. 

Serena  met  her  at  the  door,  gave  her  a  warm 
embrace,  and  seated  her  in  an  arm-chair  on  the 
shaded  porch,  taking  another  by  her  side. 

At  their  feet  lay  the  little  garden,  gay  with 
flowers,  that  separated  the  house  from  the 
street.  Perry  was  amusing  himself  there 
trundling  a  toy  wheelbarrow  up  and  down  the 
walks.  He  dropped  it  to  run  to  Miriam  to 
claim  a  kiss,  asking  eagerly  if  Bertie  and  Oily 
were  coming,  too. 

"  Not  to-day,  my  little  man,"  Miriam  said, 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     123 

bestowing  the  caress,  and  keeping  her  arm 
about  him.  "  How  is  little  sister?"  she  asked. 

"  Oh,  dus  splendid  !"  he  exclaimed,  his  dark 
eyes  dancing  with  pleasure  ;  "  her's  de  nicest 
'ittle  sister  ever  was." 

"  He's  very  fond  of  her,"  Serena  remarked, 
with  satisfaction.  "  And  she  is  a  lovely  little 
darling,  if  her  father  and  mother  are  competent 
to  judge  of  her  charms,"  she  added,  with  her 
low,  silvery  laugh. 

"  And  am  I  not  to  be  treated  to  a  sight  of 
her?"  asked  Miriam,  lightly. 

"  Yes,  indeed.  She  is  taking  her  morning 
nap  ;  but  I  think  we  can  take  a  peep  at  her 
ladyship  without  waking  her,"  Serena  said,  ris- 
ing, and  leading  the  way  through  the  hall  to 
the  cosey  sitting-room  beyond,  where,  in  a 
dainty  crib,  the  babe  lay  sleeping — a  plump,  fair, 
golden-haired,  blue-eyed  little  creature  some 
three  months  old. 

'  What  a  darling  !"  exclaimed  Miriam,  half 
under  her  breath  as  the  two  bent  over  the  little 
one  with  eyes  full  of  loving  admiration. 

"  Isn't  she?  the  dear,  tiny,  helpless  thing  !" 
murmured  Serena,  just  touching  her  lips  to  the 
velvet  cheek.  "  Ah,  Miriam  dear,  how  happy 
I  am  !"  she  sighed,  when  they  had  gone  back 
to  the  porch  and  resumed  their  seats.  "  I 
couldn't  wish  anything  better  for  yoii  than  such 
a  \\  ifehood  and  motherhood  as  mine  :  two  such 
darling  children,  and  a  husband  so  tenderly 


124    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

careful  of  his  wife,  so  kind   and  affectionate  as 
mine." 

"  I  am  very  glad  for  you,  Serena,"  Miriam 
said  in  reply.  '  I  think  you  have  won  a  prize 
in  the  matrimonial  lottery  ;  but  I  can  scarcely 
expect  to  do  so  well  ;  therefore,  my  better  plan 
will  be  to  remain  single." 

"  Oh,  no,  indeed  you  must  not  !  I  am  very 
sure  you  can  do — perhaps  not  quite,  but  very 
nearly  as  well*  if  you  choose,"  returned  Serena, 
with  a  laughing  glance  into  her  friend's  face. 
"  He's  deeply  in  love,  Mirry  ;  there's  no  doubt 
about  it ;  the  doctor  and  I  have  both  seen  it  for 
some  time  past." 

'  You  are  talking  in  riddles,"  Miriam  said, 
smiling  and  blushing  in  spite  of  herself.  Then 
a  look  of  keen  distress  came  into  her  face. 

"  Mirry,  you  are  in  trouble,"  Serena  said, 
taking  her  friend's  hand  and  squeezing  it  affec- 
tionately in  her  own.  '  Tell  me  what  it  is, 
dear,  and  let  me  sympathize,  and  help,  too,  if  I 
can. ' ' 

'  I  came,  intending  to  tell  you,"  faltered 
Miriam,  "  and  to  ask  advice  of  the  doctor — not 
professional  ;  but  it's  partly  a  business  matter, 
and  I  can't  bear  to  speak  of  it  to  Ronald  or 
Sandy  ;  though,  indeed,  I  cannot — oh,  it  would 
be  impossible  ! — I  never,  never  could  ;  there  is, 
after  all,  but  one  course  open  to  me  ;  and  yet — 
and  yet—" 

"  What  is  it,  dear  ?"  asked  Serena,  as  Miriam 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    125 

broke  off  abruptly,  hiding  her  face  in  her  hands, 
while  the  hot  blood  mounted  to  her  very  hair% 
"  If  it's  anything  Alonzo  can  help  you  in,  he 
will  do  it  most  gladly,  I  am  sure.  He's  away 
for  to-day  at  Fairfield,  or  near  there  ;  I  expect- 
ed him  home  this  morning,  but  had  a  telegram 
awhile  ago  saying  he  couldn't  leave  a  very  sick 
patient  till  to-morrow.  Oh,"  arriving  at  an 
inkling  of  the  truth  by  a  sudden  intuition,  "  it's 
that  horrid  Bangs  !  I  know  it  is  !  Have  him  ? 
No,  of  course  you  couldn't  !  'twould  be  worse 
than  death  by  far  !" 

"  Yes,  Serena  ;  oh,  a  thousand  times  worse  !" 
Miriam  exclaimed,  dropping  hei  hands  and  fix- 
ing anguished  eyes  on  her  friend's  face.  "  But 
oh,  you  don't  know  what  mischief — not  to  me 
only,  but  to  those  dearer  than  myself — he  now 
has  it  in  his  power  to  do  !" 

"What,  Mirry  ?  what  can  he  have  it  in  his 
power  to  do  to  you  in  this  free  country?" 
queried  Serena,  both  look  and  tone  expressing 
surprise  and  dismay,  along  with  some  slight 
incredulity. 

"  He  holds  a  mortgage  on  Lakeside  ;  and  as 
I  am  not  able  to  meet  even  the  full  interest  at 
present,  he  can  foreclose  and  rob  us  of  the  home 
our  father  made  for  us — the  dear  home  where 
we  were  all  born,  and  where  father  and  mother 
died.  Is  not  that  a  hard  alternative  ?"  Miriam 
asked,  hot  tears  streaming  from  her  eyes. 

"  Dreadful !  dreadful  !     But  has  he  actually 


126     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

threatened  it  ?  has  he  presumed  to  offer  himself 
to  you  ?  He  who  isn't  fit  to  wipe  the  dust 
from  your  shoes  !"  she  added,  in  wrathful  ac- 
cents. 

'  Yes  ;  he  has  done  both,"  sighed  Miriam  ; 
then  went  on  to  tell  of  an  interview  held  with 
Bangs  on  the  previous  afternoon  in  the  grove 
adjacent  to  the  house  at  Lakeside. 

Feeling  entitled  to  an  hour  of  recreation, 
after  many  spent  in  overseeing  the  men  in  the 
field,  and  attending  to  domestic  duties  about  the 
house,  she  had  gone  to  the  grove  with  a  book, 
and  while  pleasingly  absorbed  in  its  contents  had 
been  surprised  by  a  visit  from  Bangs,  who,  in 
spite  of  a  reception  of  studied  coldness,  had 
forced  his  society  upon  her  and  made  her  an 
offer  of  his  hand,  professing  to  have  already  be- 
stowed his  heart  upon  her. 

"  Heart,  indeed  !"  exclaimed  Serena,  in  hot 
indignation  ;  "  he  doesn't  own  anything  worthy 
of  the  name.  I  hope  you  told  him  so." 

"  Not  exactly  that,"  Miriam  said,  with  the 
ghost  of  a  smile  ;  "  but  my  reply  was  as  un- 
equivocal and  decided  a  rejection  of  his  suit  as 
I  knew  how  to  make  it.  Then  he  grew  furious, 
and  haughtily  informed  me  that  he  would  find 
means  to  compel  me  to  accept  him  or  he  would 
ruin  the  whole  family,  as  he  had  bought  the 
mortgage  from  Mr.  Himes,  and  could  foreclose 
when  he  pleased." 

"  Himes  !"  exclaimed  Serena.  "  Oh,  did  you 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    12 7 

hear  the  news  that  was  telegraphed  from  Fair- 
field  this  morning?" 

"  No  ;  what  was  it?" 

'  That  Mr.  Himes  was  attacked  on  his  raft 
shortly  before  daylight,  robbed,  and  nearly 
murdered." 

"  Oh,  how  dreadful  !  But  he  was  not  quite 
killed  ?" 

"  No  ;  he  was  insensible  when  found  ;  but 
they  succeeded  in  restoring  him  to  conscious- 
ness, so  that  he  was  able  to  tell  that  his  rob- 
ber and  intended  murderer  was  that  Phelim 
O'Rourke  who  was  suspected  of  committing 
the  Lakeside  burglary,  but  cleared  by  Bangs 
swearing  to  an  alibi.  I  don't  believe  a  word  of 
that  alibi,  and  never  did  ;  and  now  hope  that 
they  will  get  the  rascal  into  custody  and  find 
some  of  your  marked  notes  on  him  or  in  his 
possession  somewhere." 

Miriam  drew  a  long  breath.  "  Oh,  if  that 
should  happen  !"  she  cried,  "  I — I  think  it 
would  help  me  to  get  out  of  Bangs's  power." 

"  I  do  believe  it  would  !"  exclaimed  Serena, 
her  eyes  sparkling  at  the  thought.  "  But 
whether  that  happens  or  not,  Alonzo  is  sure  to 
find  a  way  of  escape  for  you.  Miriam,  he's  the 
best  and  kindest-hearted  man  that  ever  was 
made.  I  used  to  think  I  was  fond  of  Perry's 
father— Perry  Golding,  Sr. — but  it  was  nothing 
to  compare  to  my  love  for  his  successor." 

"  I  am  so  glad,"  Miriam  said,  smiling  sympa- 


128     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

thetically  into  the  speaker's  eyes,  "  for  the  doc- 
tor is  worthy  of  all  the  love  you  can  give  him, 
and  it  makes  you  both  so  happy.  You  have 
never  told  me  anything  about  Mr.  Golding. 
He  was  killed  in  the  war — in  battle — was  he 
not?" 

"  No  ;  he  joined  the  Confederate  army  in 
spite  of  the  strongest  opposition  on  my  part, 
and  after  a  while  I  had  Word  that  he  was  sick  in 
a  hospital  down  in  Alabama,  and  though  I  hur- 
ried there  as  fast  as  possible,  he  was  dead  be- 
fore my  arrival — dead  and  buried  ;  they  showed 
me  his  grave,  and  gave  me  his  clothes,  but 
wouldn't  let  me  remove  the  body. 

"  I  went  home  in  deep  grief,  for  I  had  been 
quite  attached  to  poor  Perry.  But  he  wasn't 
the  man  Dr.  Jasper  is  ;  he  would  get  drunk  oc- 
casionally, and  then  be  cross  and  unreasonable  ; 
sometimes  actually  abusive." 

She  broke  off  with  a  sudden  exclamation, 
"  Oh,  see  what  a  crowd  is  coming  down  the 
street !  I  wonder  what  it  means  ?" 

They  sprang  to  their  feet  and  stood  gazing 
intently  at  an  approaching  party  of  horsemen, 
followed  by  a  motley  crowd  of  men  and  boys 
on  foot. 

As  they  drew  near  enough  for  the  recognition 
of  faces,  Miriam  remarked,  in  a  low  tone,  to 
her  companion,  "  That  is  Mr.  Duncan,  the 
county  sheriff,  riding  at  the  head  ;  and  he  has  a 
prisoner  in  charge.  Can  it  be  ? — yes,  yes,  it  is 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    129 

Phelim  O'Rourke  !  Oh,  how  thankful  I  am 
that  they  have  caught  him— the  would-be  mur- 
derer of  that  poor  old  man  !" 

"  So  am  I  ;  but  why  do  they  bring  him  here  ? 
Why  not  take  him  to  Fairfield  ?  so  much  nearer 
as  it  is  to  the  place  where  he  did  the  dreadful 
deed." 

"  Because  this  is  the  county  town,  and  the  jail 
is  here.  He  richly  deserves  hanging  ;  but 
capital  punishment  has  been  abolished  in  this 
State.  Besides,  if  his  victim  doesn't  die  it 
wouldn't  be  a  hanging  matter  in  any  State- 
ought  not  to  be,  of  course." 

"There'll  be  a  trial,  anyhow,"  remarked 
Serena,  "and  Bangs  will,  I  presume,  do  his 
best  to  defend  the  scoundrel  again  ;  but  I  hope 
he  will  not  be  able  to  save  him  from  the  peni- 
tentiary. ' ' 

The  crowd  had  passed,  and  Miriam  found  it 
was  time  for  her  to  go  home.  The  friends 
parted  affectionately,  Serena  exhorting  Miriam 
to  be  brave  and  cheerful,  for  the  doctor  would 
surely  find  a  way  to  help  her  out  of  her  trouble. 

Miriam  walked  briskly  on,  hardly  looking  to 
the  right  or  left,  for  her  thoughts  were  very 
busy  with  her  personal  difficulties  and  the 
startling  events  of  the  morning.  So  it  was  a 
surprise  when  she  was  suddenly  addressed  by 
a  man's  voice  speaking  in  gentlemanly  accents, 
14  Excuse  me,  madam,  but  can  you  direct  me  to 
the  house  of  Dr.  Jasper  ?"  and  turning  her  head, 


130    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

perceived  a  stranger  standing,  hat  in  hand,  by 
her  side. 

"  Yes,"  she  said  ;  "it  is  that  pretty  house 
yonder,  on  the  other  side  of  the  street,  nearly 
two  squares  below  here,  and  with  roses  and 
honeysuckle  climbing  over  the  front  porch." 

'  Thank  you,"  he  returned,  with  a  low  bow, 
and  hurried  away  in  the  direction. indicated. 

'I  wonder  who  he  is?"  thought  Miriam, 
sending  a  backward  glance  after  the  retreating 
figure.  "  Somebody  wanting  the  doctor,  I  sup- 
pose. Dear  me  !  why  didn't  I  think  to  tell  him 
that  he  is  out  of  town  and  will  not  return  till 
to-morrow  ?" 

it  was  too  late  for  that  now,  so  she  dismissed 
the  stranger  from  her  thoughts  and  hastened  on 
her  way,  feeling  that  she  had  already  lingered 
too  long. 

Perry  had  gone  back  to  his  play,  and  Serena 
was  still  seated  in  the  porch,  with  a  bit  of  sew- 
ing in  her  hand,  stitching  industriously  and 
softly  humming  a  snatch  of  song  in  the  fulness 
of  her  content  and  joy  in  the  thought  of  her 
loved  husband  and  two  darling  children,  when 
the  gate  opened,  and  lifting  her  head  at  the 
sound,  she  saw  a  tall  man  of  military  bearing 
stride  in,  snatch  up  Perry,  and  give  him  a  vig- 
orous hug  and  kiss. 

'  Don't,  man  !  oo  dus  et  me  be  !"  cried  the 
little  fellow,  struggling  to  release  himself. 

Setting  him  on  his  feet  again,  the  stranger 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  //'//./>  Kll'EK   VALLEY.    131 

passed  quickly  up  the  porch  steps  and  stood  be- 
fore Serena.  She  glanced  up  into  his  bearded 
face  in  surprised  inquiry,  sprang  to  her  feet, 
and  stepped  back  a  pace  or  two,  her  heart  beat- 
ing wildly,  the  color  suffusing  her  face,  then 
suddenly  retreating,  and  leaving  it  of  a  death- 
like pallor. 

'Don't  you  know  me?"  he  asked,  with  a 
slightly  scornful  curl  of  the  lip. 

'  Yes,"  she  answered,  slowly,  her  voice 
trembling  with  agitation  ;  "  it's — George  Gold- 
ing,  the  brother  of  my  former  husband,  Perry's 
father." 

"  No  ;  it's  not  George,  but  Perry  himself. 
I'm  your  husband,  Serena,  and  you're  my  wife. 
My  claim  is  stronger  than  Jasper's,  and  he'll 
have  to  give  you  up  to  me." 

A  look  of  anguish  swept  over  her  wan  face, 
and  she  clutched  at  a  chair-back  for  support. 

"  It  isn't  true,"  she  said,  hoarsely  ;  "  it  can't 
be  true,  for  Perry  Golding  died  three  years  ago. 
I  went  to  the  hospital  to  nurse  him,  but  he  was 
dead  before  I  got  there  ;  they  told  me  so,  and 
they  showed  me  his  grave  and  gave  me  his 
clothes." 

"  Twas  all  a  lie,  then,"  he  asserted,  "for 
here  I  am,  alive  and  well,  and  I've  come  for  my 
wife,  and  intend  to  have  her,  too— her  and  my 
son." 

4  I'll  not  go  with  you  !"  she  cried,  the  color 
returning  to  her  cheek  and  her  eyes  flashing 


132    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

with  anger.  "  I  tell  you  my  former  husband  is 
dead,  and  you — you  are  an  impostor  !" 

"  Am  I  ?"  he  said,  coolly,  helping  himself  to 
a  chair.  "  Sit  down  and  listen  to  what  1  have 
to  say  in  proof  of  my  identity." 

She  dropped  into  her  seat  again,  and  he  went 
on  to  speak  of  some  things  known  only  to  him 
and  herself.  He  succeeded  in  convincing  her  ; 
she  knew  and  acknowledged  that  he  was  the 
husband  she  had  so  long  believed  to  be  in  his 
grave,  so  long  ceased  to  mourn,  but  it  was  with 
bitter  sobs  and  tears  that  she  did  so  ;  she  drew 
herself  away  when  he  would  have  embraced 
her,  and  bade  him  leave  her — at  least  for  the 
present. 

Perry  had  joined  them,  and  stood  by  his 
mother's  side,  glancing  wonderingly  from  one 
to  the  other.  Presently  he  doubled  up  his  fist 
and  shook  it  in  his  father's  face.  "Go  'way, 
bad  man  !"  he  said,  fiercely  ;  "  oo  make  my 
mamma  cry.  Go  'way  !  I'll  tell  my  papa  on 
oo,  and  he'll  whip  oo  !" 

'  He'll  have  a  big  job  on  his  hands  if  he  at- 
tempts that,"  Golding  said,  regarding  the  little 
fellow  with  an  amused  smile.  "  But  I'm  your 
papa,  my  man." 

11  No,  oo  ain't  !"  cried  the  child,  backing 
away  as  he  would  have  taken  him  by  the  hand. 

Just  then  an  infant's  crv  came  from  within 
the  house 

"  There  !    oo've  waked  the  baby — my    'ittle 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     133 

sister — oo  bad  ole  man  !  Go  '\vay  dis  min- 
ute !"  cried  Perry,  with  a  stamp  of  his  baby 
foot,  while  Serena  rose  hurriedly,  ran  into  the 
sitting-room,  snatched  her  babe  from  its  crib, 
and,  straining  it  to  her  breast,  turned  and  faced 
Golding,  who  had  followed  her  in. 

4  Yours?"  he  queried,  with  an  angry  flush 
on  his  cheek. 

'  Yes,  mine,"  she  said,  firmly,  soothing  it 
with  tenderest  caresses  ;  "  my  own  precious 
darling." 

'  Jasper's  brat,  eh  ?  She'll  have  to  be  left 
behind  when  you  go  with  me." 

'  Then  I'll  never  go  with  you  !  Leave  my 
baby,  indeed  !  never,  never  while  I  draw  the 
breath  of  life  !" 

"  Now,  see  here,  Serena,"  he  said,  in  a  tone 
of  expostulation,  "  you  know  you're  not  Jas- 
per's wife,  and  can't  be  while  I  live." 

She  turned  on  him  fiercely.  "  What  right 
had  you  to  go  away  and  leave  me  for  three 
years  to  believe  you  dead  and  buried  ?  If  you 
had  ever  written  me  a  line  or  sent  a  message 
even  by  some  one  else,  this  would  never  have 
happened.  You  are  responsible  for  it  all,  and 
you  have  no  right  to  claim  me  now.  Where 
have  you  been  all  these  years  ?" 

"  In  Mexico.  I've  made  money  enough  to 
enable  us  to  live  in  comfort  and  even  luxury, 
and  I  thought  to  share  it  with  you  and  our 
boy." 


134     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

'  Money!"  she  cried,  with  ineffable  scorn; 
'  you  would  bribe  me  with  money  to  leave  this 
darling,"  gazing  down  at  her  babe  with  tear- 
dimmed  eyes,  an  expression  of  unspeakable  love 
and  tenderness  stealing  over  her  features,  "  and 
— and  the  husband  who  has  been  far,  far  more 
tender  and  true  than  ever  3'ou  were,  Perry 
Golding." 

"  Not  your  husband,  madam  ;  he  can't  be 
that  while  I  live  ;  and  now  that  you  know  that 
I  am  living,  you  will  leave  him  at  once  if  you  are 
a — the  virtuous  woman  I  always  took  you  to  be. " 

"  Go  !  leave  me  this  moment  !"  she  cried, 
imperiously.  "  You,  and  you  alone,  are  to 
blame  for  this  dreadful  state  of  things  !" 

"  I  go,"  he  said,  bowing  himself  out ;  "  but 
you  and  Jasper  will  hear  from  me  again." 

"  Oh,  how  cruel,  how  cruel  he  is  !"  she 
sobbed,  sinking  into  a  low  rocker.  "  He  knew 
I  was  married  again  ;  he  had  heard  it ;  and  why 
couldn't  he  stay  away  and  leave  me  in  peace  ? 
Oh,  it  would  break  my  heart  to  leave  Alonzo, 
and  you,  my  precious,  precious  baby  !"  clasp- 
ing it  close,  and  covering  its  face  with  kisses  and 
tears. 

'  Don't  cry,  mamma  ;  the  naughty  man's 
gone,"  said  Perry,  creeping  to  her  side  and 
putting  an  arm  around  her  neck  ;  "  don't  cry  ; 
he  sha'n't  come  back  any  more  ;  I'll  watch  the 
gate,  and  if  I  see  him  coming,  I'll  run  and  lock 
the  door." 


////.    I'RM'.KDY  01'    WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     135 

"  Oh,  Perry,  we  can't  keep  him  out  !"  she 
sighed,  hugging  and  kissing  the  little  prattler, 
while  the  big  tears  rolled  down  her  cheeks. 
14  What  shall  1  do  ?" 

"  Send  for  papa  to  come  right  away." 

14  So  I  will,"  she  said,  laying  her  babe  in  the 
crib  again,  and  going  to  her  writing-desk. 
"  Run  to  the  kitchen,  Perry,  dear,  and  tell  Annie 
I  want  her." 

Taking  a  slip  of  paper  from  the  desk,  she 
wrote  a  message  : 

"  Come  home  ;  I  have  urgent  need  of  you." 

Annie  was  at  her  side  before  the  last  word 
was  penned.  The  girl  had  overheard  a  part  of 
the  interview  between  her  mistress  and  the 
stranger,  and  was  full  of  excitement  and  curi- 
osity. 

"  Oh,  Mrs.  Jasper,  what's  wrong?"  she  ex- 
claimed. '  Was  that  one  o'  them  burglars 
threatenin'  you  ?  They're  gettin'  so  bold,  no- 
body knows  what  the)7  won't  do  next." 

"  No  ;  he  was  not  a  burglar,!'  Serena  an- 
swered, speaking  with  as  entire  composure  as 
she  could  command.  '  I  want  you  to  take  this 
slip  of  paper  to  the  telegraph  office  and  ask 
them  to  send  the  message  I  have  written  on  it 
to  Dr.  Jasper,  at  Fairfield,  as  promptly  as  pos- 
sible. Here  is  the  money  to  pay  for  it. " 

Mr.  Himes  had  recovered  sufficiently  to  be 
told  of  the  arrest  of  O'Rourke,  with  all  the  fruits 
of  the  robbery  of  the  raft  in  his  possession  ;  for 


136     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

so  hot  had  been  the  pursuit  that  the  villains 
had  found  no  opportunity  for  a  division  of  the 
spoils. 

The  old  man  received  the  news  with  exulta- 
tion, declaring  his  intention  to  prosecute  to  the 
utmost  extent  of  the  law,  and  at  once  engaged 
Captain  Charlton  as  his  attorney. 

The  latter  was  preparing  to  leave  for  Prairie- 
ville,  Dr.  Jasper  intending  to  remain  behind  till 
the  next  day,  when  Serena's  telegram  was  hand- 
ed him.  He  could  not  imagine  what  was  amiss 
at  home  ;  but  her  assertion  that  she  had  urgent 
need  of  him  was  sufficient  to  work  an  imme- 
diate change  in  his  plans.  Consigning  his  Fair- 
field  patients  to  the  care  of  another  physician, 
he  drove  back  to  Prairieville  with  Charlton, 
and  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  alighted 
at  his  own  door. 

Little  Perry  greeted  him  with  a  welcoming 
shout.  "  Oh,  papa,  I'm  so  glad  you've  corned  ! 
A  naughty  man  corned  here  and  made  mamma 
cry,  and  she  doesn't  stop.  But  oo  won't  let 
him  come  any  more  ;  will  oo,  papa  ?" 

"  I  shall  certainly  not  allow  anybody  to 
trouble  mamma  if  I  can  help  it,  my  boy,"  re- 
turned the  doctor,  hurrying  into  the  house. 

Serena  met  him,  all  bathed  in  tears,  and 
threw  herself  sobbing  into  his  arms. 

"  My  darling  !"  he  exclaimed,  in  surprise  and 
concern,  "  what  is  wrong?  what  can  have  hap- 
pened to  distress  you  so  ?" 


THE  TRAGEDY  Ol-    ll'/LD  RIVER   VALLEY.    137 

14  Oh,  Alonzo,  the  worst,  the  very  worst  thing 
you  can  imagine  !  Perry  Golding  is  not  dead 
—there  was  some  strange  mistake  ;  he  is  here  ; 
in  town  ;  and — and  he  claims  me  as  more  his 
than  yours.  But  oh,  I  love  you — only  you  ;  and 
it  will  kill  me  if  I  have  to  go  back  to  him  !" 

"It    is    beyond    belief  !"    he    cried,   aghast. 
'  Surely  the  fellow  is  an  impostor  !" 

'  No  ;  I  thought  so  at  first ;  but  he  proved 
his  identity  to  me  beyond  a  doubt.  Oh,  tell 
me,  have  I  not  a  right  to  choose  between  you 
and  cling  to  the  one  I  love  best— the  one  who 
will  let  me  have  both  my  children  ? — for  he 
would  force  me  to  leave  my  baby  behind." 

"  Then  he  is  utterly  unworthy  of  you  !"  ex- 
claimed the  doctor,  in  hot  indignation. 

"  Then  you  will  not  let  him  tear  me  away 
from  you  ?"  she  sobbed,  clinging  closer  to 
him. 

"  It  would  be  like  submitting  to  having  my 
heart  torn  out,"  he  groaned  ;  "  but  oh,  my 
dear,  I  cannot  yet  see  what  can  be  done — how 
I  can  rightfully  ignore  his  claim  to  you,  my 
heart's  idol !  Let  me  think,"  he  added,  releas- 
ing her  from  his  embrace  and  beginning  to  pace 
the  floor. 

"  He  deserted  me  and  left  me  for  three  years 
to  believe  him  dead  and  buried,"  she  said.  '  I 
think  I've  heard  that  was  considered  sufficient 
ground  for  divorce." 

"  According  to  man's  enactments,  yes  ;  but, 


138    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

dearest/'  gazing  on  her  with  a  look  of  yearning 
tenderness,  "we  who  profess  to  be  God's  follow- 
ers and  children  must  abide  by  the  law  of 
God,  who  permits  divorce  for  but  one  cause. 
Ah,"  with  a  brightening  countenance  as  a  sud- 
den recollection  came  to  him,  "  I  do  remember 
now  to  have  heard,  before  we  left  your  old 
home,  that  Perry  Golding  had  given  you  that 
one  cause  !" 

'  Is  it  so?"  she  cried,  half  breathlessly.  '  I 
had  not  known  it,  though  I  can  well  believe 
it  may  have  been  true.  Tell  me  about  it, 
please." 

He  did  so. 

"  And  you  will  tell  him  ?"  she  said,  when  he 
had  finished  his  story  ;  "  and  surely  he  must 
see  at  once  that  he  has  no  longer  any  rightful 
claim  to  me,  and  will  go  away  and  leave  us  in 
peace." 

'  There  will  have  to  be  a  divorce,"  replied 
the  doctor.  '  I  hope  he  may  be  induced  to  join 
in  asking  for  it,  in  which  case,  if  I  am  not  very 
much  mistaken,  the  judge  can  grant  it  without 
bringing  the  affair  into  court." 

"And  if  he  won't  join  in  the  request  ?"  she 
asked,  almost  holding  her  breath  to  listen  for 
his  reply. 

'  You  may  have  to  sue  for  divorce,  bring- 
ing your  proof  of  marital  infidelity  and  deser- 
tion." 

"  Oh,  horrible  !M  she  cried,  shuddering,  and 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    139 

hiding  her  face  ;  "  to  have  all  that  dragged  be- 
fore the  public  !" 

44  Dearest,  do  not  distress  yourself,"  he  said, 
tenderly,  and  with  emotion  ;  "  we  will  hope 
that  alternative  may  not  be  forced  upon  you." 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

IT  was  past  noon  when  Belinda  left  the  raft, 
carrying  a  large  basket  containing  her  hus- 
band's clothes  and  such  other  articles  as  there 
might  be  pressing  need  of  for  him  or  herself. 
She  hoped  to  make  arrangements  for  storing 
their  goods  in  some  safe  place,  and  to  return  in 
the  course  of  the  afternoon  with  a  conveyance 
for  them,  and  some  one  to  assist  in  their  re- 
moval. 

She  had  not  gone  far  when  she  met  a  farmer 
driving  leisurely  along  the  road. 

"Good-day,"  he  called  to  her.  "  If  I  was 
goin'  your  way  I'd  give  ye  a  lift  ;  that  basket 
looks  heavy  ;  but  I'm  comin'  from  the  town  and 
you  a  goin'  toward  it.  Good  deal  of  excitement 
there  to-day.  Did  ye  hear  the  news  ?" 

'  What  news?"  she  asked,  her  heart  leaping 
into  her  mouth. 

'  Why,  that  they've  nabbed  the  murderer  ; 
leastways,  the  scoundrel  that  attackted  that  old 
man  on  the  raft  and  left  him  fer  dead.  They've 
took  him  to  Prairieville  to  the  jail.  He'd  ought 
to  be  strung  right  up,  I  say  ;  fer  I've  not  the 
least  doubt  that  he's  at  the  head  o*  the  gang  o' 
burglars  that's  been  robbin'  here  and  there  till 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     141 

nobody  in  this  whole  region  of  country  knows 
when  he  and  his  family  and  goods  is  safe." 

He  had  reined  in  his  horses,  and  she  had  set 
down  her  basket  for  a  moment's  rest  while 
listening  to  what  he  had  to  say. 

"  But  don't  you  think  everybody 'd  ought  to 
have  a  fair  trial  ?"  she  asked,  with  some  hesita- 
tion. 

'  That's  so,  when  there's  any  doubt  o'  their 
'guilt  and  any  chance  o'  their  gettin'  their  de- 
serts ;  which,  howsomever,  there  ain't  in  this 
instance,  seein'  that  the  law's  so  that  they  can't 
nohow  mete  out  to  the  murderers  the  measure 
they've  meted  to  their  victims  ;  and  that  ain't 
accordin'  to  Scriptur',  nohow  you  kin  fix  it," 
he  said,  flecking  a  fly  off  his  horse's  back  with 
the  lash  of  his  whip.  '  There's  some  folks  that 
talk  as  if  'twas  worse  than  hangin'  to  be  shut  up 
in  State's  prison  fer  life,"  he  went  on,  "  but  I 
always  notice  that  them  that's  in  favor  of  the 
criminal  is  pretty  generally  o'  the  opinion  that 
they've  gained  a  good  deal  fer  him  when  they 
get  a  death  sentence  commuted  to  that ;  be- 
cause, you  see,  there's  always  a  chance  o'  some 
governor  that  wants  to  secure  the  votes  o'  that 
class  pard'nin'  him  out." 

'  Yes  ;  but  it's  an  awful  thing  to  put  a  man 
to  death,  because  if  you  find  out  afterward  that 
he  was  innocent,  you  can't  make  it  up  to  him 
nohow  at  all,"  she  said,  taking  up  her  basket ; 
and  with  a  parting  nod  she  went  on  her  way. 


142     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

On  entering  the  town,  she  at  once  perceived 
evidences  of  unusual  excitement  among  the  in- 
habitants :  men  were  grouped  together  on  the 
sidewalks  and  about  the  store  doors,  neighbor- 
women  talking  across  fences  or  leaning  out  of 
windows,  discussing  the  all-absorbing  topic  of 
the  robbery  and  attempted  murder  of  old 
Farmer  Himes,  and  the  arrest  of  the  supposed 
leader  of  the  gang  of  burglars  who  had  been  for 
months  past  the  terror  of  Wild  River  Valley.  « 

Occasionally  Belinda  heard  her  own  name 
coupled  with  the  remark  that  the  old  man  be- 
lieved her  to  be  in  league  with  his  would-be 
assassins,  the  speaker  or  the  one  addressed 
sometimes  adding  that  she,  too,  ought  to  be 
arrested  and  put  in  prison  for  trial. 

She  hurried  on  her  way,  growing  more  and 
more  frightened  at  every  step,  till  by  the  time 
she  had  gained  the  door  of  the  tavern  whither 
her  husband  had  been  conveyed  she  was  ready 
to  drop  with  fatigue  and  alarm. 

And  the  reception  she  met  with  there  was  not 
calculated  to  reassure  her  ;  evidently  every  one 
regarded  her  with  suspicion  ;  and  the  landlord, 
on  learning  who  she  was,  coldly  informed  her 
that  he  had  no  room  for  her  ;  she  would  have  to 
find  accommodation  elsewhere. 

"Didn't  they  bring  my  husband  here?  and 
isn't  he  a  lyin'  now  in  one  o'  them  bedrooms  o' 
yours?"  she  asked,  trying  to  put  on  a  bold, 
defiant  air. 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.     143 

"  Yes  ;  but  what  of  that?" 

'  Why,  I've  come  to  nurse  him  ;  and  of 
course  I'll  share  his  room  ;  so  you  needn't  tell 
me  you  haven't  got  one  for  me." 

"  Not  so  fast,  woman,"  returned  Mr.  Strong. 
"  The  old  man  says  you  have  more  love  for 
O'Rourke  than  for  him — in  fact,  he  accuses  you 
of  betraying  him  into  the  hands  of  his  would-be 
assassins,  and  swears  that  he  will  henceforward 
have  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  you — neither 
let  you  nurse  him  nor  pay  any  bills  of  your 
contracting.  So,  as  I  don't  board  folks  for 
nothing,  there's  no  place  for  you  here." 

She  was  opening  her  lips  to  offer  her  services 
as  cook  or  chambermaid,  when  a  thought  of  the 
danger  of  arrest  on  suspicion  of  having  been  ac- 
cessory to  the  attempt  on  her  husband's  life 
caused  a  sudden  abandonment  of  that  idea. 

4  It's  a  lie  !"  she  cried,  with  a  show  of  great 
indignation,  "  a  wicked  lie  that  I  had  anything 
to  do  with  them  robbers  try  in'  to  git  a  holt  o' 
his  money  and  kill  him.  If  it  hadn't  been  fer 
me  a  runnin'  with  all  my  might  fer  help,  he'd 
been  a  dead  man  hours  ago,  a  bleedin'  there  on 
the  raft,  without  a  soul  to  do  nothin'  fer  him. 
But  I'll  go  and  leave  the  ongrateful  old  idyot 
to  git  along  the  best  he  kin  without  me." 

She  stooped,  and  taking  a  small  parcel  from 
the  basket  which  she  had  set  down  on  the  floor 
beside  her,  4<  These  is  my  clo'es  ;  t'others  is 
hisn,"  she  said,  and  without  so  much  as  a  part 


144    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

ing  salutation  stalked  into  the  street  and  away 
faster  than  she  had  come,  anger  and  the  fear  of 
pursuit  lending  her  strength. 

She  returned  to  the  raft,  but  by  a  roundabout 
way,  with  the  design  of  throwing  any  possible 
pursuer  off  the  scent.  She  reached  it  well-nigh 
spent  with  exertion  and  the  agitation  of  mind 
she  had  undergone  for  so  many  hours  ;  indeed, 
for  many  days  and  weeks  she  had  been  ill  at 
ease,  torn  by  conflicting  emotions — hatred  of  the 
man  who  tyrannized  over  her,  reproached  by 
conscience  for  that  and  the  guilty  love  indulged 
for  O'Rourke,  tempted  to  abet  him  in  his  intend- 
ed crime,  yet  at  times  filled  with  horror  at 
thought  of  the  awful  deed,  and  terror  of  the  more 
than  possible  consequences  to  him  and  herself. 

Standing  on  the  grassy  bank  below  which  the 
raft  was  moored,  she  sent  a  hasty,  searching 
glance  around.  There  was  neither  sight  nor 
sound  of  pursuit,  and  leaping  on  board,  she 
threw  herself  down  on  its  floor  and  lay  there 
for  some  minutes,  panting  and  trembling. 

What  should  she  do  ?  where  fly  for  refuge  ? 
there  was  no  safety  here  ;  people  would  pres- 
ently be  flocking  to  look  upon  the  scene  of  the 
attempted  murder  ;  she  thought,  as  she  lifted 
her  head  and  glanced  about,  that  she  perceived 
evidences  that  some  had  already  been  there  ; 
doubtless  news  of  Phelim's  arrest  had  called 
them  in  another  direction,  but  surely  they 
would  soon  return,  bringing  others  with  them. 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    145 

Some,  if  not  all,  believing  the  old  man's 
story,  would  hoot  and  jeer  at  her,  perhaps 
offer  her  personal  violence — throw  her  into  the 
river,  drag  her  ashore,  and,  maybe,  hang  her 
to  the  nearest  tree  ;  she  had  heard  of  such 
things,  had  read  in  the  newspapers  of  suspected 
criminals  being  lynched  by  furious  mobs,  who 
utterly  refused  to  listen  to  their  protestations  of 
innocence. 

It  behooved  her  to  fly  instantly  ;  but,  ah  ! 
whither  could  she  go  ?  She  had  neither  rela- 
tive nor  friend.  Phelim's  parents  detested  her 
on  account  of  her  marriage  to  Himes  ;  his  asso- 
ciates would  be 'very  likely  to  make  away  with 
her,  should  the  chance  offer,  lest  she  should  be- 
come a  witness  against  them.  She  had  not  been 
long  in  the  neigborhood  when  hired  by  Himes, 
and  had  always  lived  a  lonely  life  on  the  farm. 

Despair  was  taking  possession  of  her  when 
there  came  to  her  recollection  the  fact  that 
Phelim  had  told  her  of  a  little  cave  in  the  rocky 
bank  of  the  river  only  a  short  distance  higher 
up  the  stream  than  she  now  was. 

He  believed  its  existence  to  be  known  only  to 
himself,  and  had  given  her  a  very  particular 
description  of  its  location,  remarking  that  she 
might  have  occasion  to  conceal  herself  there  in 
case  suspicion  should  arise  of  her  complicity  in 
his  crime,  or  her  presence  be  required  as  a  wit- 
ness against  him  in  court,  should  he  be  caught 
and  brought  to  trial. 


146    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

She  had  a  horror  of  caves— their  dampness 
and  da**kness,  and  the  possibility  of  reptiles  and 
wild  beasts  harboring  there — but  such  a  hiding- 
place  seemed  her  last  hope  in  this  hour  of  fear 
and  peril.  She  remembered  its  existence  with 
a  thrill  of  something  akin  to  joy,  and  wondering 
that  she  could  have  forgotten  it  for  even  a  mo- 
ment, rose,  gathered  together  a  few  necessaries 
— some  food,  candles,  a  box  of  matches,  a  few 
articles  of  clothing,  and  a  blanket  to  lie  upon— 
and  set  out  at  once  in  search  of  the  spot. 

So  well  had  Phelim  described  it  that  she 
found  it  with  but  little  difficulty,  though  the 
entrance  was  concealed  from  view  by  a  thick 
growth  of  bushes  and  creeping  vines.  It  could 
be  reached  only  by  a  very  steep  climb  up  the 
almost  perpendicular  face  of  the  high,  rocky 
bank. 

Her  first  ascent  was  made  slowly  and  with 
much  toil  and  fear  of  falling,  and  when  at  last 
she  had  gained  the  rocky  ledge  in  front  of  the 
opening,  pushed  aside  the  overhanging  vines, 
and  looked  within,  nothing  but  the  blackness 
of  darkness  met  her  gaze,  and  she  shrank  back 
with  a  shudder,  in  terror  of  all  kinds  of  venom- 
ous and  savage  creatures. 

But  quickly  she  nerved  herself  to  enter,  struck 
a  match,  lighted  a  candle,  and  sent  a  searching 
glance  around  from  side  to  side  and  up  over- 
head. It  was  a  small,  irregularly  shaped  room, 
the  ceiling  barely  high  enough  to  enable  her  to 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER    I' ALLEY.    147 

stand  upright  in  it,  the  walls  of  solid  rock  show- 
ing no  crevice  wherein  beast  or  even  snake 
could  hide. 

She  drew  a  long  breath  of  relief,  stuck  her 
candle  in  a  little  niche  in  the  wall,  climbed  down 
again  to  the  base  of  the  cliff,  and  gathering  up 
the  articles  she  had  brought,  made  the  ascent  a 
second  time,  and  deposited  them  in  the  cave. 

She  was  compelled  to  refresh  herself  with 
rest  and  food  before  she  could  attempt  any  fur- 
ther exertion  ;  it  was  near  sundown  when  she 
again  ventured  to  the  vicinity  of  the  raft,  ap- 
proaching with  great  caution  till,  from  the  shel- 
ter of  a  clump  of  bushes,  she  could  obtain  a  view 
of  it 

She  had  already  heard  the  sound  of  human 
voices  coming  from  that  direction,  so  was  not 
surprised,  though  very  much  disturbed,  at  sight 
of  a  crowd  of  men  and  boys,  with  here  and  there 
a  woman  or  girl,  upon  it  and  the  adjacent  bank. 

They  seemed  to  be  making  free  with  what- 
ever was  to  be  found  on  board,  and  with  a  sigh 
and  a  muttered,  "  There  won't  be  nothin'left  o' 
our  goods  and  things  ;  they'll  carry  'em  all  off 
or  break  'em  up  ;  and  oh,  my,  but  won't  Himes 
be  mad  !"  She  dropped  down  upon  the  grass 
behind  the  bushes,  and  there  waited  and  watched 
for  their  departure. 

But  the  last  did  not  leave  till  the  glow  of  the 
sunset  had  quite  faded  from  the  sky,  and  night's 
sable  pall  was  slowly  settling  down  over  the 


148    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

earth.  It  was  already  too  dark  to  board  the 
raft  with  safety  ;  almost  too  dark  to  make  her 
way  back  to  the  cavern  ;  but  moving  slowly  and 
with  extreme  caution  she  accomplished  the  task. 

She  passed  a  most  uncomfortable  night ;  the 
blanket  spread  upon  the  rock  made  but  a  hard 
bed  ;  the  air  of  the  cave  was  damp,  close,  and 
stifling  ;  a  guilty  conscience,  remorse,  and  ter- 
ror were  but  poor  bedfellows. 

The  hours  dragged  wearily  along,  seeming 
as  if  they  would  never  end  ;  again  and  again 
she  pushed  aside  the  overhanging  vines  and 
peered  out  to  see  if  the  dawn  had  not  come  ;  and 
with  the  first  streak  of  light  in  the  east  she  crept 
from  her  hiding-place  and  back  to  the  raft. 

She  found  it  stripped  of  everything  valuable. 
In  fact,  a  part  of  the  crowd  she  had  seen  there 
the  previous  afternoon  were  men  sent  by  Mr. 
Himes  to  remove  his  goods  and  chattels  to  a 
place  of  safety. 

Thus  she  was  cut  off  from  the  supplies  she 
had  hoped  to  secure,  and  starvation  would  soon 
be  staring  her  in  the  face  if  she  remained  in  hid- 
ing, while  to  leave  her  retreat  seemed  too  peril- 
ous a  move  to  be  contemplated  for  a  moment. 
Yet  loathing  and  dreading  its  darkness  and 
closeness,  she  lingered  where  she  was  till  the 
sun  grew  hot  and  she  thought  she  descried  in 
the  distance  a  man  approaching  from  the  direc- 
tion of  the  town.  That  sight  sent  her  hurrying 
back  to  her  poor  refuge  in  a  panic  of  fear. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

rPHE  news  of  the  arrest  of  O'Rourke,  follovv- 
1  ing  upon  his  robbery  of  Himes,  more  espe- 
cially because  one  of  the  notes  stolen  from  Lake- 
side was  found  upon  his  person,  was  highly 
exasperating  to  Colonel  Bangs.  He  visited  the 
jail  that  same  evening,  and  held  a  rather  stormy 
interview  with  the  prisoner,  reminding  him  of 
his  warning  that  it  was  a  dangerous  thing  to 
carry  that  note  about  with  him,  and  telling  him 
passionately  that  he  should  have  kept  it  care- 
fully hidden  in  some  safe  place. 

'  You've  been  a  precious  fool !"  he  conclud- 
ed, "  for  who  now  will  put  any  faith  in  the  alibi 
I  swore  to  in  your  favor  ?" 

1  If  ye're  the  smart  lawyer  I  take  ye  fer,  ye 
kin  git  me  out  o'  this  throuble  in  spite  o'  that," 
returned  Phelim,  coolly  ;  "  an'  ye'd  betther  be 
afther  thryin*  yer  purtiest,  or  mabbe  I  moight 
be  indooced  to  turn  State's  ividence  agin  ye  in 
that  matther  o'  the  Lakeside  burglary,  to  say 
nothin'  o'  wan  or  two  ither  jobs  o'  the  same 
sort." 

Bangs's  face  flushed  hotly  ;  he  was  furious  at 
the  implied  threat,  but  felt  it  his  wisest  course 


ISO    TtfE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

to  conceal  his  anger  and  adopt  a  milder  and 
more  conciliatory  tone. 

"  That  would  be  very  foolish,  Phelim,"  he 
said,  with  a  forced  laugh  ;  "for  if  you  got  me 
sent  to  prison,  who  would  defend  you  in  future 
scrapes  ?  I'll  undertake  your  defence  this  time, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  and  never  fear  that  I'll 
fail  to  clear  you.  I'd  be  willing  to  wager  my 
head  that  we'll  come  off  with  flying  colors." 

"  But  I'll  have  to  clear  out  o'  this  part  o'  the 
counthry  ;  'twouldn't  niver  do  to  attimpt  to  ply 
me  thrade  round  here  no  more." 

;<  It  would  be  a  great  risk,  certainly,"  re- 
turned Bangs.  "  But  tell  me,  is  there  any  truth 
in  Himes's  story  that  his  wife  aided  and  abetted 
you?" 

"Av  coorse  not  !"  asserted  Phelim  ;  "'  what 
fer  wad  she  be  afther  poverizin'  hersilf  ?  If  the 
ould  man's  money  was  all  gone,  sure  he'd  have 
none  to  use  in  buyin*  victuals  an'  clo'es  fer  his- 
silf,  let  alone  her." 

"And  you  weren't  intending  to  rob  him  of 
her  as  well  as  the  money,  eh  ?"  queried  Bangs, 
with  a  covert  sneer. 

Phelim's  only  answer  was  a  harsh  laugh. 

Bangs  did  not  press  the  question.  "  I  must 
go  now,"  he  said,  rising  and  drawing  out  his 
watch.  (<  Good-night ;  I'll  be  in  again  before 
long." 

The  next  morning,  while  Belinda  sat  in  de- 
spairing wretchedness  upon  the  raft,  and  Phelim, 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    151 

the  hardened  criminal,  slept  unconcernedly  in 
his  prison  cell,  Bangs  wended  his  way  to  the 
butcher's  shop  to  secure  for  his  dinner  the  cut 
of  beef  most  to  his  liking.  He  was  early,  but 
found  several  customers  there  before  him, 
among  them  Barney  Nolan. 

14  Out  of  my  way,  fellow  !"  growled  Bangs, 
pushing  rudely  past  Barney.  '  There,  Hicks," 
to  the  butcher,  who  was  busily  at  work,  saw  in 
hand,  over  the  dead  animal,  "  that's  the  very 
cut  I'm  after." 

"  Now,  that's  rather  a  pity,  isn't  it,  colonel, 
seein'  it's  sold  already  ?"  returned  Hicks,  in  a 
slightly  sarcastic  tone,  taking  it  up  with  de- 
spatch, throwing  it  into  the  scales,  then  wrap- 
ping a  piece  of  brown  paper  about  it  and  be- 
stowing it  in  Barney's  basket. 

"  Sir,  I  am  not  accustomed  to  such  treat- 
ment !"  cried  Bangs,  wrathfully.  "  I  spoke  for 
that  particular  cut  before  you  had  it  sawed  off." 

"  Just  so,"  returned  Hicks,  with  nonchalance  ; 
"  but  Nolan  spoke  for  it  full  five  minutes 
sooner  ;  and  it's  first  come  first  served  in  this 
shop." 

"  An  Irish  laborer,  with  a  family  to  support, 
has  no  business  to  be  buying  the  most  expen- 
sive piece  of  beef  in  the  market,  when  there's 
plenty  of  cheaper  to  be  had,"  said  Bangs,  eye- 
ing Barney  with  anger  and  disdain. 

'  Faix,  sor,  an*  isn't  it  jist  yersilf  that  \\a<l 
betther  be  afther  moindin'  yer  own  business, 


152    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

an'  lavin'  an  honest  man,  that  pays  as  good 
money  an'  honest  fer  his  mate  as  anny  in  yer 
purse,  to  moind  hisn  ?"  queried  Barney,  with 
air  and  tone  of  sturdy  independence.  "  An' 
I'm  not  a  sodger  no  longer,  sor  ;  nor  is  yersilf 
the  colonel  o'  me  rigiment,  to  have  it  in  yer 
power  to  thrate  me  loike  a  brute  baste  intirely, 
as  yez  did  in  the  war  that's  over  an'  done  wid, 
thank  the  blissid  Vargin  an'  all  the  howly 
saints." 

Bangs  replied  with  a  volley  of  oaths  and 
curses,  while  Barney  stepped  leisurely  past 
him  to  the  outer  door  and  into  the  street,  as  if 
he  heeded  them  no  more  than  the  idle  whistling 
of  the  wind. 

Bangs  shook  his  fist  after  the  retreating  form, 
then  turned  and  poured  out  the  vials  of  his  wrath 
upon  Hicks.  He  had  never  in  all  his  life  been 
so  shamefully  treated  !  The  idea  of  a  man  of 
his  circumstances  and  standing  in  society  hav- 
ing his  wishes  set  aside  for  the  gratification  of 
those  of  a  low-born  foreigner  ;  a  fellow  with- 
out means  or  brains  ! 

"  I'll  not  stand  it,  sir,"  he  concluded.  "  I'll 
take  my  custom  elsewhere." 

"  All  right,  Mr.  Bangs  ;  I'm  able  to  do  with- 
out it,"  returned  Hicks,  with  cheerful  indiffer- 
ence ;  "  there's  always  a  plenty  of  folks  wantin' 
meat  for  themselves  and  their  families." 

"  Of  course,  people  must  eat  to  live,"  re- 
marked a  bystander.  "  And  hard  words  are 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     153 

not  the  sort  to  win  favors  with,"  he  added,  with 
a  meaning  glance  at  Bangs — a  glance  that  spoke 
ill-concealed  contempt  and  aversion  ;  for  the 
latter — never  a  favorite  with  his  neighbors  and 
townsmen — was  growing  more  and  more  un- 
popular day  by  day  ;  at  least,  with  the  better 
class. 

"  I  ask  no  favors  from  any  man,  but  neither 
will  I  submit  to  injustice,"  he  retorted,  stalking 
haughtily  into  the  street  and  awa}'. 

Meanwhile,  Barney  was  hastening  homeward, 
chuckling  over  Bangs's  discomfiture,  which  on 
his  arrival  he  described  with  great  glee  to  Nora 
and  the  children. 

Nora  had  cleaning  to  do  at  Lakeside  that  day, 
and  an  hour  or  two  later  rehearsed  the  story  in 
the  ears  of  Mrs.  Heath  and  Miriam. 

11  Mr.  Hicks  was  quite  right,"  was  the  old 
lady's  comment,  and  Miriam  echoed  it  in  her 
heart,  though  she  said  nothing. 

"  And  did  yees  know,  Miss  Miriam,  that 
Phalim  O'Rourke  was  the  scoundrel  that  robbed 
yees,  afther  all,  jist  as  Barney  said  ?  wan  o'  thim 
notes  bein'  found  *on  his  person  when  they 
catched  him." 

"  Yes,  I  heard  it ;  and  the  note  was  brought 
to  me  last  night." 

"  Indade,  miss  !  an'  sure  I'm  glad  fer  yees 
that  ye've  got  it  back  ;  an'  it's  mesilf  as  hopes 
they'll  all  come  back  till  ye — ivery  wan  o'  thim  ; 
an'  it's  me  that's  glad  intirely  they've  got  that 


154     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVLR   VALLEY. 

thafe  of  a  villain  an'  murderer  safe  in  jail.  It's 
no  thanks  to  him,  the  scoundrel,  that  the  ould 
man — Farmer  Himes — wasn't  kilt  intirely  ;  an' 
for  why  shouldn't  he  swing  for  the  wicked 
deed  ?" 

'  The  law  doesn't  hang  men  in  this  State," 
said  Miriam  ;  "  besides,  fortunately,  Mr.  Himes 
isn't  dead,  and  the  doctors,  I  believe,  consider 
him  likely  to  recover." 

"  An'  sure,  miss,  wad  the  loike  o*  that  be 
afther  makin'  anny  difference  to  the  dirty  rascal, 
Phalim  O'Rourke?"  asked  Nora;  "  wad  they 
be  afther  lettin'  him  go  ?" 

"  He'll  be  tried  for  his  crime,  and  if  found 
guilty  will  be  sent  to  the  penitentiary  for  a 
term  of  years,"  answered  Miriam. 

"  An'  Misther  Bangs  wull  be  afther  clearin' 
av  him,  av  coorse,"  remarked  Nora,  in  ex- 
treme disgust. 

'  I  think  it  altogether  likely  he  will  try  to  do 
so,"  Miriam  said. 

Before  the  day  was  over  she  had  learned  that 
her  surmise  was  correct,  and  the  tidings  in- 
creased her  already  intense  detestation  of  Bangs. 
She  could  see  no  redeeming  trait  in  his  charac- 
ter, and  strongly  suspected  him  of  being  in 
league  with  the  band  of  burglars  who  had 
committed  so  many  depredations  in  the  valley 
for  months  past.  Surely  that  alibi  he  had 
sworn  to  on  Phelim's  trial  for  the  Lakeside 
burglary  was  a  lie,  and  what  motive  could  he 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  J17/J)  RIVER  VALLEY.    155 

have  had  for  thus  perjuring  himself  unless  he 
were  a  party  to  the  theft  and  a  sharer  in  the 
spoils  ? 

She  put  that  query  to  Ronald  while  having  a 
little  private  chat  with  him  before  they  sepa- 
rated for  the  night. 

"  It  certainly  looks  very  suspicious,"  he  said 
in  reply  ;  "  still  it  is  possible  that  some  one  else 
may  have  committed  the  robbery  here — another 
one  of  the  gang,  for  instance — and  passed  off 
the  note  upon  O'Rourke  afterward,  and  that 
Bangs  had  had  no  connection  with  the  deed  or 
knowledge  of  it  afterward." 

"  Yes,"  returned  Miriam,  slowly  and  thought- 
fully, "  I  suppose  it  is  possible,  yet  I  cannot  help 
feeling  that  my  suspicion  is  just  ;  I  am  morally 
certain  of  it  ;  and  I  shall  find  it  difficult  to  treat 
Bangs  with  the  barest  civility  should  he  ever 
call  here  again." 

"  He  will  be  here  again  ;  I  haven't  a  doubt  of 
it,"  Ronald  said,  laughingly.  '  It's  plain  that 
he  comes  a  wooing,  Mirry  ;  but  I  warn  you  that 
I  shall  never  give  my  consent'to  the  match." 

"  It  will  never  be  asked  by  me,"  she  said, 
her  eyes  flashing  and  the  hot  blood  surging 
over  face  and  neck  at  the  thought  of  the  base- 
ness of  the  man  and  the  audacity  of  his  pursuit 
of  her.  "  Oh,  Ronald,  I  would  die  a  thousand 
deaths  rather  than  link  my  life  with  that  of  so 
sordid,  cruel,  haughty,  and  unprincipled  a 
wretch  !" 


156    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

"  And  I,"  said  Ronald,  dropping  his  banter- 
ing tone  and  speaking  with  emotion,  "  should 
even  prefer  to  see  my  darling  Sister  Miriam 
sleeping  peacefully  in  her  coffin  ;  though  what 
we  should  ever  do  without  her  I  cannot  tell." 

"  I  think  you  are  not  likely  to  find  out  very 
soon,  Ron  dear,"  she  said,  forcing  a  smile,  for 
her  heart  was  very  heavy  ;  "  I'm  strong  and 
healthy,  and  hope  to  live  till  you  are  all  ready 
to  do  without  me." 

'  In  that  case  you  certainly  will  not  die 
young,  sister  mine,"  he  responded,  with  a  look 
of  strong,  brotherly  affection.  "  But  you  are 
worn  out  with  the  cares  and  labors  of  the  day  ; 
so  we'll  say  good-night  ;  and  don't,  I  beg  of 
you,  sit  up  to  sew,  or  lie  awake  brooding  over 
losses  and  the  perplexing  problem  how  we  are 
to  pay  off  that  troublesome  mortgage.  It's  a 
good  omen  that  a  part  of  the  stolen  money  has 
been  recovered,  and  I  do  believe  we'll  be  helped 
through  the  whole  difficulty.  Just  think  what 
good  Christians  our  father  and  mother  were, 
and  how  many  prayers  they  sent  up  for  us, 
their  loved  children." 

"  Yes  ;  it  is  often  the  greatest  comfort  to  me 
to  think  of  that,  and  of  what  the  Bible  says 
about  a  good  man  leaving  an  inheritance  to  his 
children's  children,"  she  said,  smiling  through 
tears. 

The  next  few  weeks  were  a  time  of  heavy 
trial  to  Miriam.  Bangs  beset  her  at  every  turn, 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.     157 

meeting  her  in  her  walks  and  rides,  coming  on 
her  when  she  was  in  the  field,  and  could  not 
escape  from  him,  and  urging  his  suit  with  per- 
suasions, promises,  and  threats,  determined  to 
win  her,  in  spite  of  the  most  firm  and  decided 
rejection  repeated  again  and  again. 

And  Warren  Charlton,  whose  visits  were 
always  so  welcome,  stayed  away.  She  would 
hardly  own  it  to  herself,  but  that  was  an  added 
drop  in  her  cup  of  bitterness,  as  she  wondered 
vaguely  what  she  could  h&ve  said  or  done  to 
offend  him. 

She  did  her  best  to  hide  her  troubles  from 
her  grandmother  and  Ronald,  assuming  in  their 
presence  a  cheerfulness  and  even  gayety  which 
she  was  far  from  feeling.  The  only  friends  in 
whom  she  felt  ready  to  confide,  and  whose 
sympathy  and  advice  would  have  been  a  help 
to  her,  were  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Jasper  ;  but  she  had 
not  the  heart  to  ask  it  of  them,  a  pathetic  note 
from  Serena  having  acquainted  her  with  the 
trial  they  were  passing  through. 

Earthly  helpers  failed  her  ;  she  seemed  left 
to  breast  the  storm  alone,  while  the  clouds  grew 
darker  day  by  day,  as  Bangs  waxed  more  and 
more  wroth  at  her  steadfast  refusal  to  bend  to 
his  will. 

Then  she  turned  for  help  to  the  God  of  her 
fathers,  crying  to  Him  :  "  '  Deliver  me,  oh,  my 
God,  out  of  the  hand  of  the  wicked,  out  of  the 
hand  of  the  unrighteous  and  cruel  man.'  ' 


158    THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

Meanwhile,  Mr.  Himes  was  recovering  from 
his  wounds  much  more  rapidly  than  had  been 
supposed  possible,  and  was  gloating-  over  the 
prospect  of  bringing  his  intended  murderer  to 
trial.  He  held  frequent  interviews  with  Charl- 
ton,  and  the  latter  was  kept  very  busy  in  hunt- 
ing up  evidence  in  that  and  several  important 
cases  likely  to  be  called  up  at  the  next  term  of 
court. 

It  was  this  unusual  pressure  of  important  busi- 
ness which  kept  him  away  from  Lakeside,  in 
spite  of  a  strong  desire  to  see  his  friends  there 
—Miriam  not  less  than  other  members  of  the 
family. 

Mr.  Himes's  condition  had  so  greatly  im- 
proved that  he  was  no  longer  confined  to  his 
room,  but  usually  spent  the  greater  part  of  the 
day  among  the  loungers  on  the  porch  before 
the  barroom  door,  and  occasionally  walked  a 
short  distance  up  or  down  the  street.  He  was 
an  early  riser,  and  often  came  down-stairs  long 
before  the  call  to  breakfast,  eager  to  exchange 
the  closeness  and  heat  of  his  circumscribed 
bedroom  for  the  fresh  outside  air  of  street  or 
porch. 

"  Strong,"  he  asked,  one  evening  as  they  sat 
smoking  there  together,  "  what's  become  o' 
that  raft  o'  mine  ?  d'ye  know  ?" 

"  I  b'lieve  it's  lyin'  moored  just  where  ye  left 
it,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  I  heard  somebody  say  so 
a  day  or  two  since."  • 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.    159 

'  Well,  I'm  goin'  to  walk  out  there  and  see 
for  myself." 

'  I  wouldn't  try  a  walk  o'  that  length  yet 
awhile,  if  I  was  you,  Himes,"  returned  Strong, 
with  a  look  of  surprise  ;  "  ye're  weak  yet  and 
the  weather's  hot  ;  the  sun  was  scorching  hot 
to-day." 

'  Then  I'll  be  up  and  off  before  sunrise  ;  back 
again  before  your  breakfast-bell  rings.  I'll  try 
it  to-morrow  mornin'." 

'  I  wouldn't  if  I  was  you,"  repeated  Strong  ; 
"  you  haven't  got  the  strength  for  it  ;  besides," 
drawing  closer  to  the  old  man  and  speaking  in 
an  undertone,  "  there's  been  two  suspicious- 
looking  fellows  hanging  round  the  town  for  the 
last  day  or  two,  and  who  knows  but  they  may 
belong  to  the  gang  that  robbed  and  tried  to 
murder  you  ?  They  may  be  watching  an  op- 
portunity to  finish  up  the  job." 

"  Nonsense  !  I  won't  have  a  cent  about  me, 
and,  of  course,  it  was  the  money  they  was  after 
then.  Besides,  the  rascal  that  did  the  job  is 
fast  locked  up  in  jail  now." 

'  Yes  ;  but  they  may  be  wantin'  to  put  you 
out  o'  the  way,  so's  you  can't  give  evidence 
against  him  on  the  trial.  I  wouldn't  trust  'em." 

1  I'm  not  afeard,"  sneered  the  old  man  ;  4<  I 
never  gave  nobody  no  reason  to  call  me  a  cow- 
ard, and  I  don't  mean  to,  neither." 

"  Common-sense  prudence  is  not  cowardice," 
returned  the  landlord;  "in  your  weak  state 


160     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY. 

you'd  stand  no  chance  against  one  strong  man, 
let  alone  two." 

"  It's  all  guesswork  that  those  fellers  belong 
to  the  gang  and  are  after  me,  and  I  don't  be- 
lieve a  word  of  it,"  said  Himes,  testily. 

Strong  was  beginning  a  fresh  expostulation 
when  his  wife  interposed,  "  Oh,  let  him  alone, 
John,  do  !  If  he's  a  mind  to  throw  away  his  life, 
why  need  you  worry  yourself  to  prevent  him  ?" 

"  Well,  now,  that's  not  it,"  said  Himes  ;  "  I've 
no  mind  to  throw  away  my  life  ;  not  till  I've 
seen  Phelim  O'Rourke  brought  to  justice,  any- 
how ;  so  I'll  maybe  put  off  goin'  out  o'  town 
for  a  while  ;  I'm  gittin'  stronger  every  day." 
With  that  he  knocked  the  ashes  from  his  pipe, 
put  it  in  his  pocket,  and  with  a  gruff,  "  Good- 
night to  ye,  folks,"  started  off  for  his  bedroom. 

The  old  man  had  a  good  deal  of  obstinacy  and 
tenacity  of  purpose  in  his  composition,  and 
waking  early  the  next  morning,  he  resolved  to 
carry  out  his  plan  at  once  ;  for  why  should 
he  care  what  Strong  and  his  wife  thought  about 
it  ?  he  had  as  much  sense  as  either  of  them,  or 
both  together,  for  that  matter. 

He  hurried  on  his  clothes  and  stole  quietly 
from  the  house,  for  it  was  hardly  broad  day- 
light, and  no  one,  not  even  a  servant,  yet  astir. 

An  hour  later  a  farmer  driving  into  the  town 
with  a  load  of  produce  for  the  market  found 
him  lying  dead  by  the  roadside,  foully  mur- 
dered ;  the  assassins  had  done  their  work 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  KIVER  VALLEY.     ir" 

thoroughly  this  time,  and  life  was  utterly 
extinct. 

The  news  flew  like  lightning,  not  through 
Fairfield  only,  but  to  the  neighboring  towns 
and  all  up  and  down  the  valley,  being  tele- 
graphed from  point  to  point. 

It  caused  great  excitement,  and  increased  the 
feeling  of  hot  indignation  against  the  leader  of 
the  gang,  by  whose  orders,  as  almost  every  one 
believed,  this  second  and  successful  attempt 
had  been  made  upon  the  old  man's  life  ;  and 
also  the  unpopularity  of  Bangs,  who  was  to 
defend  him  on  the  approaching  trial. 

Besides  that,  it  set  men  to  discussing  the 
justice  and  righteousness  of  the  law  of  the  State, 
which  ran  counter  to  that  law  of  God,  "  Whoso 
sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood 
be  shed." 

The  large  majority  felt  and  said  that  the 
death  penalty  was  the  only  adequate  punish- 
ment that  could  be  inflicted  uponO'Rourke  and 
his  confederates,  who  had  finally  accomplished 
the  deed  of  blood  attempted  by  him,  and  them 
under  his  leadership. 

Miriam  heard  the  news  with  a  thrill  of  hor- 
ror. "  Had  Bangs  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
instigation  of  the  atrocious  crime?"  she  asked 
herself  ;  "  might  he  not  be  wicked  enough  to 
connive  at  such  a  deed,  that  thus  the  principal 
witness  against  his  client  should  be  prevented 
from  testifying  at  the  trial  ?" 


1 62     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

She  shuddered  at  the  thought,  but  could  not 
banish  it,  and  when,  a  few  days  later,  he  called 
to  once  more  press  his  suit,  she  shrank  from 
him  in  undisguised  aversion. 

It  roused  him  to  fury,  which  he  vainly  en- 
deavored to  hide  under  an  appearance  of  lover- 
like  devotion.  He  had  come  to  her  in  no 
amiable  mood,  for  ever  since  the  news  of 
Himes's  death  had  reached  Prairieville  his  fel- 
low-townsmen had  treated  him  to  nothing  but 
looks  of  coldness,  scorn,  and  contempt.  No 
one  meeting  him  on  the  street  or  in  the  haunts 
of  business  had  a  word  of  cordial  greeting  for 
him,;  each  passed  him  by  with  scarcely  a  nod 
of  recognition,  and  their  glances  spoke  only 
disapproval  and  suspicion.  It  maddened  him  ; 
all  the  more  because  his  conscience  was  not 
clear  ;  and  he  had  been  on  the  verge  of  a 
violent  quarrel  several  times  during  the  day. 

It  was  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon 
when  he  reached  Lakeside,  and  found  Miriam 
alone  in  the  shaded  porch,  resting  and  reading 
after  many  hours  of  close  attention  to  affairs 
indoors  and  out. 

Ignoring  the  coldness  of  her  greeting,  he 
took  a  seat  close  at  her  side,  and  pouring  out  a 
perfect  torrent  of  protestations  of  admiration 
and  love,  repeated  the  offer  of  his  hand  and 
heart. 

Lifting' her  head  proudly,  and  looking  him  full 
in  the  eye,  "  Colonel  Bangs,"  she  said,  "  how 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVEK   VAIJ.EY.     163 

often  must  I  repeat  my  refusal  before  you  will 
receive  it  as  final  ?" 

"  Forever  !"  he  cried,  his  eyes  flashing  with 
anger.  '  I  tell  you,  girl,  I  will  never  give  you 
up  ;  marry  me  you  shall  !  I  have  you  in  my 
power,  and  you  cannot  escape  me.  I  should 
much  prefer  to  have  you  a  willing  bride,  but 
— I'll  even  take  you  against  your  will  rather 
than  not  have  you  at  all." 

Miriam  rose  from  her  chair  and  stepped  back 
a  pace  or  two  ;  then  confronting  him  with  pale 
but  dauntless  face,  "  What  right  have  you  to 
address  such  language  to  me,  sir?"  she  asked, 
in  freezing,  haughty  tones,  holding  her  head 
proudly  erect  and  gazing  unflinchingly  into  his 
eyes.  '  I  am  a  free  woman,  living  in  a  free 
land,  and  no  one  can  compel  me  to  marry 
against  my  inclination." 

'  Even  a  free  woman  may  find  the  compel- 
ling force  of  circumstances  too  strong  for  her," 
he  retorted  ;  "  and  I  think  it  will  be  so  in  your 
case,  for  only  by  consenting  to  become  my 
wife  can  you  save  yourself  and  those  nearest 
and  dearest  to  you  from  being  turned  out  home- 
less into  the  world." 

She  had  grown  very  pale  while  he  spoke,  but 
she  answered  in  firm,  though  gentle  tones,  and 
with  the  same  dauntless  air  with  which  she  had 
replied  to  him  at  first,  "  To  do  as  you  wish 
would  be  a  sin,  because  to  love,  honor,  or  re- 
spect you  would  be  impossible  to  me.  I  utterly 


1 64     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

refuse  compliance,  and  putting  my  trust  in  God, 
my  father's  God,  I  defy  you  to  do  your  worst !" 

"  And  I'll  do  it.  I'll  take  steps  for  the  fore- 
closing of  that  mortgage  before  I'm  a  day 
older,"  he  said,  in  low  tones  of  concentrated 
fury,  as  he  rose  and  bowed  himself  out. 

Turning  on  the  threshold,  "  How  happy  you 
will  feel  when  you  have  to  leave  this  beautiful 
place,  the  comfortable  home  and  the  farm  that 
has  been  your  means  of  support  !  How  you 
will  enjoy  the  distress  of  your  aged  grandmother 
and  the  little  orphan  brother  and  sister,  know- 
ing you  could  have  spared  them  all  their  pain 
and  suffering  !" 

An  expression  of  anguish  swept  over  her  fea- 
tures, but  was  gone  in  a  moment,  while  in  a  firm 
voice  she  answered,  "  I  trust  in  Him  of  whom 
the  Bible  tells  me,  '  He  shall  judge  the  poor  of 
the  people,  He  shall  save  the  children  of  the 
needy,  and  shall  break  in  pieces  the  oppressor. 
.  ..  .  He  shall  deliver  the  needy  when  he 
crieth  ;  the  poor,  also,  and  him  that  hath  no 
helper.'  " 

He  had  heard  enough,  and  hurried  away  with 
the  words  ringing  in  his  ears,  while  Miriam 
sought  the  privacy  of  her  own  room,  to  pour 
out  her  distresses  and  her  cry  for  deliverance 
from  the  unrighteous  and  cruel  man  to  Him 
who  had  declared  Himself  the  "  Father  of  the 
fatherless  and  a  judge  of  the  widows"  and  "  the 
hearer  and  answerer  of  prayer." 


THE  TRAGEDY  OJ-    ll'll.l)  AY/'A'A'    /'.//./.AT.     165 

Bangs  had  walked  out  from  the  town,  and  was 
now  hurrying  back  to  it,  almost  beside  himself 
with  rage,  mortification,  and  disappointment. 
He  had  made  sure  that  Miriam  would  yield  to 
his  demand  rather  than  face  the  alternative  he 
set  before  her  ;  and  the  estimate  of  his  charac- 
ter which  she  had  given  him  was  far  from  flat- 
tering to  his  self-love  and  conceit. 

There  had  been  nothing  of  unselfish  love  in 
his  passion  for  her,  and  now  it  was  turned  to 
bitterest  hate,  so  that  he  could  have  found  a 
fiendish  delight  in  dealing  her  a  death-blow  ;  in 
fact,  he  was  so  full  of  rage  and  hatred  toward 
the  whole  human  race,  that  he  would  have  felt 
an  inclination  to  attack  almost  any  one  who 
should  cross  his  path. 

He  met  no  one,  however,  till  he  had  reached 
the  principal  business  street  ot  the  town  ;  then, 
as  he  hurried  along,  catching  the  sound  of  foot- 
steps in  his  rear,  he  turned  about  to  find  Barney 
Nolan  coming  toward  him  at  a  pace  nearly  as 
rapid  as  his  own. 

'  What  are  you  following  me  for,  scoundrel  ?" 
he  demanded,  accompanying  the  query  with  a 
volley  of  oaths  and  curses. 

"  It's  mesilf  as  has  as  good  a  right  to  walk 
the  strates  o'  the  town  as  you,  sor,"  retorted 
Barney.  "  Go  'long  wid  yees,  an'  niver  be 
afther  thryin'  to  kape  Barney  Nolan  in  or- 
der." 

"  None  of  your  impudence,  sirrah  !"  growled 


1 66    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

Bangs,  walking  on,  Barney  still  keeping  in  his 
wake. 

In  another  minute  he  faced  about  upon  the 
Irishman  again,  crying  furiously,  "  I'll  not  be 
followed  by  you  or  anybody  else,  and  I  tell 
you  if  you  don't  stop  it  instantly  it'll  be  the 
worse  for  you  !" 

'  I'm  not  followin'  ye,  but  jist  goin'  about 
me  own  business,  an'  that  same  I'll  continue  to 
do,"  returned  Barney,  coolly. 

"  Do  it  at  your  peril !"  cried  Bangs,  grind- 
ing his  teeth  with  rage. 

He  walked  on  again  a  few  paces,  but  still 
hearing  the  echoing  footsteps  in  his  rear,  pulled 
out  a  pistol,  and  turning  toward  Barney  for  the 
third  time,  fired,  instantly  killing  the  innocent 
object  of  his  unreasonable  anger. 

Before  the  report  had  fairly  died  away  people 
came  rushing  to  the  spot  from  all  directions,  so 
that  in  less  than  five  minutes  a  mob  of  infuriated 
men  had  collected,  and  Bangs  perceived  at  once 
that  he  would  be  lynched  unless  he  could  save 
himself  by  flight. 

He  darted  down  a  side  street  and  flew  on- 
ward, the  mob  in  hot  pursuit.  Panting,  breath- 
less, he  gained  a  large  distillery,  and  rushing 
in,  hid  behind  the  casks  of  beer. 

But  the  mob  were  close  at  his  heels  ;  they  in- 
stantly swarmed  over  the  whole  building,  hunt- 
ing for  him  with  yells  and  shouts  of  rage. 

' '  Where  is  he— the  bloody  assassin  ?"    ' '  Catch 


THE  TK.-I t;/-: in-  or  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.   167 

him  !"  "  Hang  him  !"  "  Lynch  him  !"  '  Don't 
wait  for  the  law  ;  that'll  only  send  the  wretch  to 
State  prison,  though  he's  killed  a  better  man 
than  himself !" 

Bangs  crouched  in  his  hiding-place,  shaking 
with  terror.  Presently  the  barrels  in  front  of 
him  were  violently  shoved  aside,  a  dozen  hands 
seized  him  with  no  gentle  grasp,  and  he  was 
dragged  out  with  exultant  shouts  of  fury. 

'  Here  he  is  !  we've  got  the  double-dyed  vil- 
lain, the  bloody-handed  murderer,  and  we'll 
deal  out  even-handed  justice  to  him  !" 

"  That  we  will  !"  echoed  a  chorus  of  voices. 

"  A  rope  !  a  rope  !"  was  the  next  cry  ;  "  a 
rope  round  the  murderer's  neck,  and  off  with 
him  to  the  big  oak-tree  in  front  of  Barton's." 

Hicks,  the  butcher,  came  pushing  his  way 
through  the  crowd  with  a  stout  rope  in  his 
hands. 

1  Here,  boys,  how'll  this  answer?  It's  what 
I  brought  that  bull  into  town  with  yesterday, 
and  I  reckon  it's  strong  enough  to  hold  this 
wild  beast.  Hold  him,  and  I'll  put  it  round  his 
neck!" 

Bangs's  face  was  ashen,  and  he  was  trembling 
like  an  aspen  leaf. 

'  Friends,  neighbors,"  he  began,  hoarsely, 
"  will  you  murder  me  ?  Will  you  send  me  into 
eternity  without  a  moment's  time  to  prepare  ?" 

"  How  many  minutes  did  you  give  Barney 
Nolan?"  asked  a  stern  voice.  "'With  what 


168     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY. 

measure  ye  mete,  it  shall  be  measured  to  you 
again.'  ' 

"  Yes,  yes  !  Off  with  him  !  Off  with  him  ! 
That's  right,"  as  Hicks  threw  the  rope  over  the 
head  of  the  trembling  culprit,  and  drew  it  close 
about  his  neck. 

A  shriek  of  mortal  anguish  went  up  from  the 
pale  lips  quivering  with  fright:  "The  law! 
Let  the  law  deal  with  me,  and  don't  stain  your 
hands  with  my  blood  !" 

"  No,  no  !  the  law's  too  easy  for  a  wretch  like 
you  !"  they  yelled  in  his  ears,  as  they  dragged 
him  away  out  of  the  building,  over  the  sidewalk 
to  the  middle  of  the  street,  and  on,  on,  his  head 
striking  against  the  cobble-stones  at  every  step. 

He  was  dead  before  they  reached  ftie  tree 
where  they  meant  to  hang  him,  but  they  raised 
the  lifeless  body  to  one  of  its  branches,  and  left 
it  dangling  there,  all  the  same. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  pistol-shot  echoed  and  re-echoed  from 
the  hills,  the  roar  of  the  mob,  the  shouts 
and  yells  of  rage  were  heard  at  Lakeside,  creat- 
ing wonder  and  consternation  there. 

Miriam  had  scarcely  risen  from  her  knees, 
and  her  heart  was  still  going  up  in  earnest 
pleadings  for  help  from  on  high,  when  the  report 
of  the  pistol  struck  her  ear. 

14  What  was  that?"  she  asked  herself.  "  Some 
one  shooting  at  a  mark,  perhaps  ;  it  is  not  the 
time  of  year  for  hunting  game." 

She  remained  a  few  moments  longer  in  her 
room,  then,  at  the  call  to  tea,  descended  the 
stairs  to  the  lower  hall.  Just  as  she  reached  it 
the  more  startling  and  alarming  sounds  made 
by  the  mob  began  to  be  heard. 

44  Oh,  what  is  it  ?  what  is  happening  in  Prairie- 
ville  ?"  she  exclaimed,  rushing  into  the  dining- 
room,  where  the  other  members  of  the  family 
were  already  gathered. 

Her  grandmother  stood  listening  with  pale, 
excited  face,  little  Olive  clinging  to  her  skirts 
with  affrighted  looks,  while  Ronald  and  McAl- 
lister exchanged  glances  of  surprise  and  inquiry, 
and  Bertie  tried  to  conceal  his  alarm  by  assum- 


ryo    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

ing  an  air  of  manly  unconcern,  though  his 
young  heart  beat  fast  and  the  color  had  left  his 
cheek. 

McAllister  was  the  first  to  reply  to  Miriam's 
question. 

'  Dinna  be  fashed,  Miss  Mirry,"  he  said  ; 
"  I  ken  the  soun'  weel,  for  I  hae  heard  it  afore  ; 
it's  the  roaring  and  raging  o'  a  mob  o'  infuriated 
men.  Belike  thae  hae  caught  ane  or  more  o' 
the  burglars,  and  are  takin'  justice  into  their 
ain  hands.  The  soun's  we  hear  bode  ill  to  some 
ane  ;  but  it  canna  be  you  or  yours." 

"  That  shot,  then,  you  think  was  intended  for 
a  man  ?"  said  Ronald. 

' '  Na  doot,  sir  !  It  may  be  that  Phelim 
O'Rourke  has  broken  jail.  I  ken  he'd  be  vary 
likely  to  be  shot  doon  by  some  o'  them  he's 
robbed  and  tried  to  murder,  sooner  than  he'd 
'scape  to  do  mair  o'  the  same  kin'  o'  mischief." 

Phelim  O'Rourke  was  at  that  moment  in  his 
cell,  listening  as  intently  as  they  to  the  ominous 
sounds — listening  with  paling  cheek  and  dilated 
eyes,  while  standing  at  the  grated  window, 
vainly  striving  to  get  a  view  of  what  was  going 
on  far  down  the  street. 

He,  too,  recognized  the  hoarse  cries  of  men 
with  passions  roused  to  a  frenzy  of  rage  and 
hate.  Were  they  coming  to  lynch  him  ?  No  ; 
that  shot  fired  a  moment  ago  must  have  been 
intended  for  another  than  himself ;  some  one  of 
his  confederates,  in  all  probability. 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    171 

But  when  they  had  finished  dealing  with  the 
lesser  member  of  the  band,  what  more  natural 
than  that  they  should  turn  their  rage  upon  its 
leader  ? 

The  thought  brought  out  the  cold  beads  of 
perspiration  upon  his  brow,  and  he  caught  at  the 
iron  bars  with  a  desperate  effort  to  wrench 
them  from  their  place  and  escape. 

In  vain  ;  the  task  was  beyond  his  strength  ; 
and  with  a  groan  of  despair  he  relinquished  the 
attempt. 

44  Well,  it's  mesilf,  Phalim  O'Rourke,  that'll 
die  game,  annyhow,  if  it  has  to  come  till  that 
same,"  he  muttered,  grinding  his  teeth  together, 
and  pacing  his  narrow  cell  to  and  fro,  like  a 
wild  beast  in  his  cage. 

Then  he  called  aloud  to  the  jailor,  asking 
what  all  the  noise  was  about ;  but  no  one  came 
to  answer  his  inquiry. 

44  I  wish,"  said  Ronald  Heath,  "  that  I  were 
able  to  run  down  there  and  see  what  it  is  all 
about.'' 

44  I'm  glad  to  have  you  kept  out  of  it,"  said 
his  grandmother  ;  *4  it  seems  to  be  always  the 
innocent  lookers-on  that  get  hurt  in  time  of  a 
riot." 

44  The  impulse  to  seek  the  scene  o'  excitement 
is  vary  natural  to  most  folk,  I  think,"  remarked 
McAllister—'  t«>  those  o'  the  male  sex  at  least ; 
but  unless  ane  is  likely  to  be  o'  use  in  aiding  the 
right,  it's  far  wiser  to  stay  away." 


172    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

As  by  common  consent  they  had  all  left  the 
dining-room  for  the  porch,  and  there  they  re- 
mained—too much  excited  to  think  of  eating — 
listening  intently  to  the  yells  and  cries  till  the 
last  of  them  had  died  away.  Then  they  went 
through  the  form  of  taking  their  meal,  but  with 
scant  appetite  for  the  food,  though  it  was  well 
prepared  and  savory. 

McAllister  was  just  saying,  as  they  rose  from 
the  table,  "  I'll  gang  doun  to  the  toun  now  an* 
find  out  what's  been  goin'  on  there,"  when  a 
horseman  dashed  up  to  the  gate  and  dismounted. 
'  Warren  !"  exclaimed  Ronald,  catching 
sight  of  his  friend  through  the  open  window  ; 
"  he's  brought  us  the  news." 

He  hurried  out  as  he  spoke,  all  the  others 
following,  in  the  general  anxiety  to  learn 
the  cause  of  the  unusual  commotion  in  the 
town. 

Charlton  fastened  his  horse,  opened  the  gate, 
and  hastened  up  the  path,  meeting  Ronald  about 
half-way  to  the  house. 

The  latter  spoke  first.  ' '  What  news,  War- 
ren ?" 

"  Dreadful  !  most  dreadful  !"  he  cried,  pass- 
ing his  hand  over  his  brow,  like  one  half-stunned 
by  some  sudden  calamity. 

"  So  we  feared  from  the  strange  and  ominous 
sounds  that  have  reached  us.  Come  into  the 
porch  and  take  a  seat,  while  you  tell  us  all  about 
it,"  said  Ronald,  leading  the  way. 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLFY.    1 73 

Charlton  followed,  shook  hands  in  silence 
with  Mrs.  Heath  and  Miriam,  then  sat  down, 
the  family  grouping  themselves  about  him. 

He  was  very  pale  and  seemed  much  agitated. 
"  Yes,"  he  sighed,  "  an  awful  thing  has  hap- 
pened in  Prairieville,  our  own  town  ;  two  souls 
have  been  hurried  into  eternity  without  a  mo- 
ment of  time  for  preparation." 

"  Murder?"  asked  Ronald,  in  a  low,  awe- 
struck tone. 

"  Murder  and  lynching.  Bangs  shot  Barndy 
Nolan  down  dead  in  the  street  without  the 
slightest  excuse  for  it,  except  that  he  was  in  a 
towering  passion  about  something — nobody 
knows  what — and — ' 

"  Was  lynched  for  it?"  queried  McAllister, 
as  the  captain  paused  in  his  story. 

"  Yes  ;  he  did  not  live  many  minutes  after 
the  mob  got  hold  of  him." 

Hardly  conscious  why  he  did  so,  Charlton 
glanced  at  Miriam  with  the  last  words  ;  their 
eyes  met,  and  he  saw  a  look  of  keenest  anguish 
come  into  hers,  a  deathly  pallor  suddenly  over- 
spread her  features. 

The  pang  that  sight  caused  him  was  sharp  as 
a  dagger's  thrust.  "  Could  it  be  possible  that 
she  cared  for  Bangs  ?  a  man  so  utterly  devoid 
of  principle  or  honor,  so  hot-tempered,  wicked, 
and  cruel  ?  that  she  could  have  cherished  a  feel- 
ing of  love  for  one  so  base,  so  utterly  unworthy 
of  her  ?"  The  idea  seemed  preposterous  ;  yet 


174    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY. 

what  else  could  explain  her  strong  emotion  on 
hearing-  of  his  death  ? 

The  others,  occupied  with  what  he  was  say- 
ing, did  not  notice  Miriam's  emotion. 

"Lynched!  what  does  that  mean?"  asked 
Bertie,  in  wide-eyed  wonder. 

"  Never  mind,  dear,"  said  his  grandmother, 
rising  in  some  haste  and  leading  him  and  Olive 
away  ;  "  children  can't  understand  these  things. 
It's  all  over  now,  and  we'll  think  and  talk  of 
something  else." 

uYes;  Mrs.  Heath  is  right,"  Charlton  ob- 
served, in  a  low  voice  ;  "  and  the  details  are 
sickening  ;  hardly  fit  for  any  but  men's  ears." 

At  that  Miriam  also  rose  and  went  quietly 
away  to  seek  again  the  privacy  of  her  own 
room.  Closing  the  door,  she  threw  herself  face 
down  upon  the  bed,  pressing  both  hands  upon 
her  temples.  Her  brain  was  in  a  whirl  of  con- 
tending emotions,  in  which,  for  the  moment,  a 
feeling  as  if  she  were  partly  responsible  for 
Bangs's  awful  end  was  uppermost. 

'•  Oh,  did  I  call  down  vengeance  upon  his 
head?"  she  moaned,  half  aloud;  "  would  he 
have  been  slain  if  I  had  not  cried  to  God  for 
deliverance  from  him  ?  O  God,  Thou  know- 
est  I  did  not  desire  his  death  ;  and  Thou  hast 
said,  '  Call  upon  Me  in  the  day  of  trouble  ;  I 
will  deliver  thee. '  I  thank  Thee  for  the  deliver- 
ance, but  oh,  in  what  a  fearful  manner  it  has 
been  wrought !" 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    175 

Charlton  was  going  on  with  his  story  to  Ron- 
ald and  McAllister.  His  office  was  in  a  room 
in  the  second  story  of  a  building  directly  oppo- 
site the  brewery  in  which  Bangs  had  sought  a 
hiding-place.  He  was  writing  there,  he  said, 
when  Bangs  fired  the  shot  that  killed  Barney, 
and  starting  up  at  the  sound,  went  to  the  win- 
dow, from  which  he  saw  all  that  followed  with- 
out becoming  a  participator  in  the  doings  of  the 
mob. 

"  It  was  horrible  !"  exclaimed  Ronald,  upon 
the  conclusion  of  the  narrative,  "  yet  one  can't 
help  feeling  that  he  deserved  his  fate  for  his  un- 
provoked murder  of  a  man  like  Barney — a  de- 
cent, respectable  man,  and  with  a  family  to  sup- 
port ;  a  good-natured,  harmless  fellow,  so  far 
as  I  can  judge  from  what  I  have  seen  of  him." 

'  Yes,  sir  ;  Barney  Nolan  was  a'  that,"  said 
McAllister  ;  4  he's  been  employed  aboot  the 
farm  here  lang  enough  for  me  to  mak'  sure  o' 
that." 

Charlton  lingered  some  time  longer,  hoping 
for  another  glimpse  of  Miriam,  but  she  did  not 
rejoin  them,  and  finally  he  said  good-evening 
and  went  away. 

"Where  is  Miriam?"  asked  Mrs.  Heath, 
joining  Ronald  on  the  porch. 

'  I  don't  know,  grandma,"  he  answered,  in 
some  surprise  ;  "  I  thought  she  was  with  you." 

'  No  ;  I  left  her  here.  Perhaps  she  has  gone 
to  see  Nora.  Oh,  what  an  awful  thing  for  that 


1 76    THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

poor  woman  to  have  her  husband  shot  down  in 
that  sudden,  cruel  way  !" 

"  Yes  ;  one  cannot  wonder  at  the  exasperation 
of  the  public  ;  and  considering  the  impossibility 
of  meting  out  to  the  murderer  his  deserved 
punishment,  through  the  agency  of  the  law, 
I  can  hardly  blame  them  for  lynching  him  ;  but 
dragging  him  through  the  streets,  bumping  his 
head  on  the  cobble-stones,  was,  to  say  the  least, 
unnecessary  cruelty." 

'  Did  they  do  that,  Ronald?     Oh,  how  hor- 
rible !" 

At  that  moment  Miriam  joined  them,  taking 
a  chair  between  her  grandmother  and  brother. 
Her  face  was  very  pale,  and  she  had  evidently 
been  weeping  a  good  deal. 

Ronald  noted  it  with  surprise  and  concern. 
'  My  dear  sister,"  he  said,  kindly,  1'  don't  dis- 
tress yourself  about  this  dreadful  occurrence. 
Why  should  you  ?      Bangs  was  no   friend   to 
you." 

"  No  ;  but — it  is  almost  more  dreadful  to  me 
because  he  was — an  enemy,  and —  Oh,  you  do 
not  know  that  it  was  I  who  angered  him  so  that 
he  shot  poor  Barney  down  !  Oh,  poor,  poor 
Nora!  What  will  she  ever  do?"  she  added, 
with  a  bitter  sob  ;  "  and  I — I  feel  as  if  I  had 
killed  them  both." 

"  Oh,  Miriam,  you  are  too  sensible  a  girl  to 
think  anything  of  the  kind  !"  exclaimed  Ronald. 
"  You  did  not  give  Bangs  his  dreadful  temper, 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     177 

or  put  Barney  in  his  way  ;  nor  were  you  the 
cause  of  the  enmity  between  them." 

"  Oh,  you  don't  know  all!"  cried  Miriam; 
"  I  have  been  keeping  some  things  from  you 
and  grandmother,  because — because  I  didn't 
want  to  distress  you  ;  but  now  I'll  tell  you  all !" 

Then  she  went  on  to  give  a  full  account  of 
Bangs's  efforts  to  induce  her  to  consent  to  be- 
come his  wife,  including  his  threats,  founded 
on  the  fact  that  he  had  got  the  mortgage  on 
Lakeside  into  his  possession,  and  all  that  had 
passed  between  them  at  that  day's  interview  ; 
also  the  fury  of  passion  he  was  in  when  he  left 
her. 

She  told  also  of  her  cry  to  God  for  deliver- 
ance out  of  the  hand  of  the  unrighteous  and 
cruel  man,  and  how,  because  of  that,  she  felt 
almost  that  she  had  helped  to  bring  him  to  his 
fearful  end. 

"  Mirry,  my  child,"  her  grandmother  said, 
with  emotion,  and  laying  a  hand  affectionately 
upon  the  young  girl's  arm,  "  do  not  be  dis- 
tressed with  any  such  feeling  ;  you  have  no 
reason  to  blame  yourself ;  you  but  obeyed  the 
command, '  Call  upon  Me  in  the  day  of  trouble  ;' 
which  was  right,  wise,  and  your  duty,  and  God 
took  His  own  way  to  answer  your  prayer. 

44  If  Mr.  Bangs  had  been  a  diligent  Bible 
student  he  might  have  known  he  had  great 
reason  to  fear  some  such  fate,  if  he  persisted  in 
so  oppressing  the  widow  and  orphans  ;  because 


178     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

in  the  Book  of  Exodus  we  read,  '  Ye  shall  not 
afflict  any  widow  or  fatherless  child.  If  thou 
afflict  them  in  any  wise,  and  they  cry  at  all  unto 
Me,  I  will  surely  hear  their  cry  ;  and  My  wrath 
shall  wax  hot,  and  I  will  kill  you  with  the 
sword.' ' 

There  was  a  moment  of  silence,  then  Ronald 
said,  "  What  a  fearful  threat !  And  it  seems  to 
have  been  very  speedily  fulfilled  in  Bangs's 
case  ;  though  it  may  be  that  other  helpless  ones 
have  been  crying  to  God  for  relief  from  his  op- 
pressions for  years.  I  have  heard  it  asserted 
that  much  of  his  wealth  was  obtained  by  fraud 
and  oppression  of  the  weak  and  helpless  ;  but 
in  any  event,  Mirry,  I  am  sure  you  need  not 
feel  that  any  blame  attaches  to  you  ;  it  is  a 
morbid  feeling  that  I  trust  will  soon  pass  away." 

"  And  you  are  delivered  out  of  his  hands. 
You  should  thank  God  for  that,  Miriam  ;  we 
all  should,"  remarked  the  old  lady,  taking  her 
granddaughter's  hand  and  pressing  it  tenderly 
in  hers. 

Dr.  Jasper's  arrival  just  at  that  time  pre- 
vented a  reply  from  Miriam.  He,  too,  was  full 
of  the  fearful  events  of  the  last  few  hours  ;  had 
come  directly  from  the  scene  of  anguish  in  Bar- 
ney Nolan's  home,  where  Nora  and  the  children 
were  weeping  over  the  dead  body  of  the  hus- 
band and  father.  The  good  doctor's  eyes  filled, 
and  his  voice  trembled  with  emotion  as  he  went 
on  to  describe  the  grief  and  despair  of  the  new- 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     17; 

made   widow   and    orphans,    and    his   listeners 
wept  in  sympathy. 

"  My  heart  bleeds  for  them,"  said  Mrs. 
Heath  ;  "  yet  if  Bangs  had  left  a  wife,  her  case 
would,  I  think,  be  more  pitiable  still,  knowing 
that  her  husband  so  richly  deserved  his  fate. " 

'  I  quite  agree  with  you  in  that,"  the  doctor 
said  ;  "  but  I  believe  he  has  left  no  nearer  rela- 
tive or  connection  than  that  sister  of  his,  Mrs. 
Wiley." 

'  I  should  think  it  enough  to  make  her  in- 
sane," said  Ronald.  "  How  she  must  be  feel- 
ing now  !" 

"  She  is  out  of  town,"  said  the  doctor,  "  and 
I  presume  has  not  yet  heard  of  the  fearful  events 
of  to-day." 

"  She  inherits  her  brother's  property,  I  sup- 
pose," remarked  Ronald,  musingly,  "  and  will, 
therefore,  become  the  holder  of  the  mortgage 
on  our  home." 

"  Are  you  in  trouble  about  that  ?"  Dr.  Jasper 
asked,  in  a  tone  of  friendly  sympathy  and  con- 
cern. 

'  Yes,  sir  ;  we  fear  there  is  danger  of  fore- 
closure, should  the  holder  be  so  inclined  ;  for 
we  lack  the  means  to  pay  off  even  the  interest 
that  is  due." 

"  Don't  be  uneasy  ;  I  trust  that  danger  may 
be  readily  averted,"  returned  the  doctor,  cheer- 
ily ;  "  doubtless  the  money  to  pay  off  the  whole 
indebtedness  can  be  borrowed,  the  lender  being 


i8o     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

secured  by  a  new  mortgage  ;  and  I  dare  say 
Captain  Charlton  will  be  able  to  arrange  the 
business  for  you  in  a  satisfactory  manner,  find- 
ing a  mortgagee  who  will  not  care  to  hurry  you 
unduly  for  payment." 

The  faces  about  him  grew  brighter  at  his 
words. 

"  I  wonder  I  had  not  thought  of  that  before," 
exclaimed  Ronald. 

"  You  are  kind,  very  kind,  doctor,"  said  Mrs. 
Heath.  '  A  friend  in  need  is  a  friend  in- 
deed.' " 

"  Ah,  my  dear  madam,  advice  is  cheap,"  he 
said  ;  "  when  not  professional,"  he  added, 
laughingly.  '  I  shall  speak  to  Charlton,  and 
we  will  see  what  can  be  done."  Then,  as  he 
rose  to  go,  "  Ah,  I  had  nearly  forgotten  !  Miss 
Miriam,  Serena  bade  me  give  you  this,"  draw- 
ing from  his  pocket  a  note  written  on  tinted 
paper,  and  directed  in  a  delicate  female  hand. 
"  You  will  not  find  it  a  doleful  missive,"  he 
went  on,  a  joyous  look  coming  into  his  eyes  ; 
"the  dark  and  threatening  cloud  that  over- 
shadowed us  has  passed  away,  and  we  are  again 
rejoicing  in  the  sunlight ;  for  which  I  trust  we 
are  sincerely  grateful  to  the  Giver  of  all  good." 

"  Ah,  I  am  very,  very  glad  for  you  both  !" 
Miriam  exclaimed,  and  the  others  united  their 
congratulations  with  hers. 

"  We  have  all  felt  for  you  and  your  sweet 
wife,  doctor,"  said  the  dear  old  lady,  "  and  are 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.     181 

rejoiced  that  she  is  not  to  be  torn  from  you. 
Golding  has  relinquished  his  claim  and  con- 
sented to  leave  you  undisturbed  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  after  standing  out  against  the  measure 
for  a  time  that  seemed  very  long  to  us,  he  finally 
agreed  to  unite  with  Serena  in  asking  for  a 
divorce  ;  and  under  the  circumstances  the  judge 
was  able  to  grant  it  without  bringing  the  matter 
into  court.  Then  Serena  and  I  were  quietly 
remarried,  and  Golding  has  gone,  leaving  his  son 
with  us  ;  for  which  I  am  most  thankful,  for  I 
think  it  would  have  killed  Serena  to  be  deprived 
of  either  of  her  children." 

"  How  happened  it  that  you  were  so  strangely 
deceived  in  regard  to  Mr.  Golding's  death?" 
asked  Mrs.  Heath. 

"  I  believe  it  was  a  cousin  of  the  same  name 
whose  death  was  reported  to  Serena  as  that  of 
her  husband.  I  presume  there  was  no  inten- 
tional deceit ;  but  it  cannot  be  denied  that 
Golding  was  greatly  to  blame  in  absenting  him- 
self so  long  from  home,  and  never  during  all 
that  time  attempting  any  communication  with 
his  wife.  Besides,  even  before  that  he  had 
given  her  Bible  grounds  for  divorce.  So  that 
my  conscience  is  entirely  clear  in  asserting  my 
claim  to  be  superior  to  his,"  he  concluded,  his 
countenance  beaming  with  satisfaction. 

"  I  think  it  well  may  be,  and  that  Golding's 
conduct  has  been  very  cruel  from  first  to  last," 
remarked  Mrs.  Heath. 


1 82     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

'Yes,"  assented  the  doctor,  with  a  sigh. 
"  Ah,  well,  I  must  try  to  make  it  up  to  her 
during  the  rest  of  our  two  lives  !" 

With  that  he  took  his  departure,  and  Miriam 
opened  her  note.  It  was  written  in  a  most 
cheerful  strain,  asking  her  sympathy  in  the 
writer's  joy  over  her  deliverance  from  the  great 
trial  of  the  last  few  weeks. 

"  My  dear/'  she  wrote,  "  if  ever  you  are  in 
sore  distress,  cry  to  the  Lord  for  deliverance, 
as  I  did,  and  He  will  surely  hear.  '  In  His 
favor  is  life  ;  weeping  may  endure  for  a  night, 
but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning.'  ' 

The  thought  comforted  Miriam.  "  Shall  it 
not  be  so  with  me  also,  and  even  with  poor 
Nora?"  she  asked  herself,  with  a  feeling  of 
partial  relief  and  hopefulness,  as  she  refolded 
the  note  and  put  it  in  her  pocket. 

"  Grandmother,"  she  said,  aloud,  "  will  you 
go  with  me  to  see  poor  Nora  ?  You  will,  I  am 
sure,  know  how  to  speak  a  word  of  comfort  to 
her." 

"  Yes,"  Mrs.  Heath  said,  rising;  "  I  can  at 
least  repeat  to  her  some  of  the  precious  Bible 
promises  to  the  widow  and  the  fatherless  ;  and 
we  will  carry  them  something  to  eat.  The 
children  will  be  hungry,  even  if  grief  deprives 
the  mother  of  her  appetite." 

The  night  that  followed  that  day  was  to 
Miriam  the  longest  and  saddest  she  had  ever 
known  in  all  her  young,  healthful  life.  Her 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.     183 

heart  was  sore  for  Nora  in  her  overwhelming 
grief  and  despair,  and  full  of  horror  at  the  re- 
membrance of  Bangs's  crime  and  the  fearful 
retribution  that  had  so  speedily  overtaken  him. 

She  slept  little  till  toward  morning,  and  in 
consequence  rose  somewhat  later  than  her  usual 
hour.  Hastening  down-stairs  to  begin  the 
duties  of  the  day,  she  met  McAllister  in  the 
lower  hall. 

"  Gude-mornin',  Miss  Mirry.  The  captain 
left  this  as  he  was  ridin'  by  a  few  moments 
since,  biddin'  me  give  it  to  you,"  he  said,  hand- 
ing her  a  note. 

In  spite  of  a  determined  effort  to  seem  uncon- 
cerned, Miriam  felt  her  cheeks  flush  hotly  as 
she  took  the  missive  and  glanced  at  the  address, 
unmistakably  in  Charlton's  handwriting. 

'  You  should  have  asked  the  captain  to  come 
in  and  take  breakfast  with  us,  Sandy, "she  said. 

"  I  urged  the  hospitalities  o'  the  hoose  upon 
him,  Miss  Mirry,"  was  the  reply,  "  but  he  was 
no  to  be  persuaded.  However,  he  said  some- 
thing aboot  givin'  you  a  call  in  the  course  o' 
the  mornin'." 

Ronald  joined  them  at  that  moment  with  a 
bright  "  Good-morning,  Mirry.  Who's  that 
intends  to  call  on  us  to-day  ?" 

'  The  captain  wants  to  see  your  sister,  sir," 
said  McAllister  ;  but  Miriam  had  slipped  away, 
hiding  the  note  in  the  bosom  of  her  dress  as  she 
went. 


1 84     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY. 

"  He  does  !"  exclaimed  Ronald,  with  laugh- 
ing eyes.  '  Well,  I  for  one  shall  make  him 
welcome  to  see  her — in  my  presence  or  alone." 

Sandy  did  not  mention  the  note,  shrewdly 
guessing  that  silence  upon  that  matter  would 
be  more  pleasing  to  Miriam. 

She  seemed  slightly  abstracted  during  break- 
fast, and  took  an  early  opportunity  after  leaving 
the  table  to  steal  away  by  herself  to  learn  in 
solitude  what  Warren  had  to  say  to  her. 

Her  heart  fluttered  and  the  rose  on  her  cheek 
deepened  as  she  broke  the  seal  and  glanced  at 
the  contents  of  his  note  ;  then  with  an  exclama- 
tion of  astonishment  she  hurried  to  the  dining- 
room,  where  she  had  left  her  grandmother  and 
Ronald  consulting  together  about  some  work 
to  be  done  in  the  garden. 

"  Why,  Mirry,  what  now?  What  has  hap- 
pened that  you  look  so  excited?"  asked  her 
brother,  as  she  came  in  with  the  note  open  in 
her  hand. 

"  Something  so  wonderful  that  I  can  hardly 
believe  it,"  she  answered,  dropping  into  a  chair, 
her  eyes  shining,  her  breath  coming  half  pant- 
ingly.  '  I — I've  had  a  small  fortune  left  me  !" 

"  Can  it  be  possible  !"  exclaimed  Ronald. 
'  Where  in  the  world  does  it  come  from  ?" 

"  Listen,"  she  said,  and  went  on  to  read  the 
letter  aloud  ;  merely  a  business  one  it  was,  in- 
forming her  that  the  late  Mr.  Himes  had  made 
a  will  shortly  before  his  death,  bequeathing  to 


THE    TA'AC.EDY  OF  li'//./>  AV/'AA'   VALLEY.     185 

her — Miriam  Heath  -all  his  earthly  possessions, 
consisting  principally  of  the  money  he  had  re- 
ceived for  his  farm  and  some  United  States 
bonds,  amounting  in  all  to  $10,000. 

He  had  told  Captain  Charlton  that  he  had  no 
near  relative  or  friend— no  one  to  whom  he 
cared  to  leave  anything  ;  and  having  a  high  esti- 
mate of  Miriam's  worth,  and  a  great  admiration 
for  what  he  called  her  pluck  and  enterprise,  he 
had  selected  her  for  his  heir  in  preference  to 
any  one  else. 

"  There,"  cried  the  excited  girl,  waving  the 
letter  above  her  head,  "  it  will  be  more  than 
enough  to  save  the  place  and  stock  the  farm, 
too,  with  all  the  cattle  we  want !" 

41  But,  Mirry,  it  is  left  to  you  personally  ;  not 
to  us  as  a  family,"  said  Ronald. 

"  Well,  what  of  that  ?  What  do  I  want  with 
money,  except  to  save  the  dear  home  for'us  all  ?" 
she  cried,  half  indignantly,  half  in  exultation. 

"  Dear,  unselfish  child  !"  her  grandmother 
exclaimed,  gazing  at  her  through  tear- dimmed 
eyes  ;  "  but  we  must  not  let  you  rob  yourself." 

"  You  needn't  be  one  bit  afraid  I  shall  do 
that,  granny  dear,"  Miriam  cried,  springing  to 
her  feet  and  throwing  her  arms  about  the  old 
lady's  neck  ;  "  I'll  be  sure  to  look  out  for  num- 
ber one." 

"  When  are  you  going  to  begin  so  doing, 
sister  mine?"  asked  Ronald,  with  a  good- 
humored  laugh. 


1 86     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

Bertie  and  Olive  came  running  in  from  the 
garden  with  the  announcement  that  the  captain 
was  coming. 

'  To  see  you,  Mirry,"  added  Ronald,  roguish- 
ly. 'I  presume  he  wishes  a  private  inter- 
view. Let  me  beg  of  you  to  treat  him  well 
for  my  sake.  Just  think  what  a  friend  he  has 
been  to  me  !" 

'  He  comes  on  this  business  of  the  will,  I  pre- 
sume," returned  Miriam,  blushing,  "  and  I  shall 
want  you  and  grandmother  to  be  present." 

"  Then  I'll  ask  him  into  the  sitting-room," 
Ronald  said,  giving  her  a  smiling,  mischievous 
look  as  he  hastened  away  to  receive  his 
friend. 

Charlton  did  not  ask  for  a  private  interview, 
or  seem  to  have  come  upon  any  other  errand 
than  the  matter  of  the  will.  What  he  had  to 
say  was  said  in  the  presence  of  Mrs.  Heath  and 
Ronald. 

He  told  them  there  was  apparently  nothing 
in  the  way  of  Miriam's  taking  immediate  pos- 
session of  the  property.  It  was  possible  the 
widow  might  come  forward  to  put  in  a  claim  to 
her  thirds,  but  not  probable,  as  she  was  doubt- 
less keeping  herself  in  concealment  for  fear  of 
being  put  upon  her  trial  on  a  charge  of  com- 
plicity in  the  first  attempt  upon  the  old  man's 
life,  he  having  many  times  strongly  asserted 
that  she  was  guilty. 

"  And,"  added  Charlton,  "  there  is  no  doubt 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     187 

that  she  was  an  old  flame  of  the  would-be  mur- 
derer, Phelim  O'Rourke,  or  that  they  were 
often  together  when  the  old  husband  was  absent 
from  home." 

"  What  news  do  you  bring  us  from  town  this 
morning?"  asked  Ronald.  "  What  has  been 
done  with  Bangs's  body  ?" 

44  Wiley,  his  brother-in-law,  had  it  taken 
down  last  night  and  buried  as  privately  as 
possible,  lest  there  should  be  some  interference 
on  the  part  of  the  lynchers  ;  though  I  do  not, 
myself,  think  he  need  have  had  any  such  appre- 
hension, they  being  fully  satisfied,  I  have  no 
doubt,  with  having  inflicted  the  death  penalty 
for  his  crimes." 

"  Do  you  approve  of  capital  punishment,  cap- 
tain ?"  asked  Mrs.  Heath. 

44  Yes,  madam,  I  do,"  he  said,  emphatically  ; 
44  first,  because  God  commands  it — '  Whoso 
sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood 
be  shed  '—and,  secondly,  because  its  abolition 
gives  encouragement  to  those  inclined  to  com- 
mit murder— from  enmity  or  for  gain— and  leads 
to  lynching  in  cases  where  the  indignation  of 
the  community  is  so  aroused  by  the  enormity  of 
a  crime,  or  a  series  of  crimes,  that  they  feel 
that  the  criminal  must  be  sent  where  he  can  no 
longer  harm  his  fellows,  and  that  nothing  short 
of  the  death  penalty  is  an  adequate  reward  for 
his  misdeeds." 

44  I  agree  with  you,"  returned   Mrs.  Heath  ; 


1 88     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

"it  is  not  worth  while  for  man  to  try  to  be 
wiser  or  more  merciful  than  his  Maker." 

"  Where  is  the  command  to  which  you  have 
referred  ?"  asked  Ronald.  "  Do  not  those  who 
are  opposed  to  capital  punishment  assert  that  it 
was  a  part  of  the  Levitical  law,  and  that  there- 
fore the  obligation  to  obey  it  has  passed  away  ?" 

"  Some  do,"  said  Charlton,  "  but  it  must  be 
from  ignorance  of  the  time  when  the  command 
was  given,  and  to  whom.  It  is  found  in  the 
ninth  chapter  of  Genesis,  fifth  and  sixth  verses. 
'  The  fact  that  it  was  given  to  Noah  just  after 
the  flood  shows  that  it  is  binding  upon  all  man- 
kind ;  for  Noah  was  the  progenitor  of  all  races 
of  men  now  living  upon  the  face  of  the  earth. 
Some  opposers  of  capital  punishment  say,  to  be 
sure,  that  the  words  are  to  be  understood  in  the 
sense  of  a  prediction,  not  a  command  ;  but  to 
my  mind  it  is  very  clear  that  they  are  the  latter. 
Let  me  read  you  the  passage,"  he  continued, 
taking  up  a  Bible  that  lay  on  a  table  near  which 
he  was  seated,  and  turning  over  its  pages. 

"  Do  ;  we  shall  be  glad  to  hear  it,"  answered 
Mrs.  Heath  ;  and  he  complied. 

"  '  And  surely  your  blood  of  your  lives  will 
I  require  :  at  the  hand  of  every  beast  will  I  re- 
quire it,  and  at  the  hand  of  man  ;  at  the  hand 
of  every  man's  brother  will  I  require  the  life  of 
man.  Whoso  sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man 
shall  his  blood  be  shed  ;  for  in  the  image  of 
God  made  He  man.'  " 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.     189 

Closing  the  book,  "Is  it  not  a  plain  com- 
mand ?"  he  asked;  "  and  being,  as  I  have  al- 
ready remarked,  given  to  him  by  whose  de- 
scendants the  whole  earth  was  to  be  peopled— 
given  hundreds  of  years  before  Abraham,  the 
progenitor  of  the  Jews,  was  born — it  is  evi- 
dently not  merely  a  part  of  the  Levitical  law, 
but  is  to  this  day  as  binding  as  ever  upon  all 
mankind,  Jew  and  Gentile  alike. 

'  It  is  a  dangerous  thing,"  he  went  on,  "  for 
men  to  disregard  any  law  of  God  ;  probably 
yesterday's  lynching  would  not  have  occurred 
had  not  the  outraged  community  felt  that  there 
was  no  hope  of  justice  upon  the  criminal  through 
the  operation  of  the  law  of  the  State  ;  and  I  fear 
we  may  be  going  to  have  more  of  the  same  kind 
of  work  ;  the  popular  feeling  against  O'Rourke 
is  very  strong  all  up  and  down  the  valley." 

"  Do  you  think  there  will  be  an  attempt  to 
lynch  him?"  asked  Ronald,  while  the  faces  of 
the  two  ladies  turned  pale  with  apprehension. 

'  I  hope  not,  but  I  certainly  fear  it,"  replied 
the  captain  ;  "  there  are  angry  mutterings  in 
the  air  that  seem  to  presage  a  coming  storm." 

There  was  a  pause  in  the  conversation,  broken 
by  Ronald.  '  I  quite  agree  with  you,  Warren, 
in  what  you  have  been  saying  about  the  mis- 
chievous tendency  of  abolishing  capital  punish- 
ment ;  mercy  to  the  few  (that  is,  mercy  to  those 
whom  the  law  of  God  adjudges  to  death  for 
having  destroyed  the  lives  of  their  fellow-crea- 


IQO     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

tures)  is  cruelty  to  the  many,  because  it,  as  you 
have  said,  takes  away  the  wholesome  fear  that 
often  deters  wicked  and  unscrupulous  men  from 
murders  they  are  moved  to  commit  from  covet- 
ousness  or  a  desire  for  revenge. 

!<  But  do  you  not  think  that  beside  the  evil, 
of  which  we  have  just  been  speaking,  there  are 
others  at  work  in  the  same  direction  ?" 

'  Yes  ;  I  have  in  mind  two  others  which  are, 
I  presume,  the  very  ones  to  which  you  refer. 
One  is  the  practice  by  criminal  lawyers  of  delay- 
ing or  entirely  frustrating  the  execution  of  the 
law  when  they  know  their  client  to  be  guilty  ; 
and  not  only  guilty,  but  unrepentant ;  taking 
advantage,  for  that  purpose,  of  some  trivial 
technicality  that  has  no  bearing  whatever  upon 
the  question  of  the  prisoner's  guilt. 

'  The  higher  courts,  too,  that  for  like  insuffi- 
cient reasons  reverse  the  righteous  decisions  of 
the  lower,  give  encouragement  to  crime. 

"  The  other  evil,  working  in  the  same  direc- 
tion, is  the  mawkish  sentimentality  of  certain 
weak-minded  people,  that  leads  them  to  make 
heroes  and  martyrs  of  the  most  depraved  and 
guilty  of  men,  the  most  heartless  and  desperate 
of  criminals.  Red-handed  murderers  seem  to  be 
their  especial  favorites,  to  be  visited,  feasted 
upon  dainties,  loaded  with  choice  flowers,  pitied 
and  pleaded  for,  that  they  may  be  spared  the 
due  reward  of  their  deeds  ;  perhaps  set  free  to 
repeat  them." 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     191 

"  I  blush  for  my  sex  when  I  hear  how  some 
of  them  pet  and  pamper  the  vilest  criminals, 
the  most  heartless,  ruffianly  murderers,  simply 
because  justice  has  overtaken  them  and  they  are 
in  prison,"  remarked  Miriam.  '  They,  the  silly 
sentimentalists,  seem  to  lose  all  remembrance 
of  the  pain  and  misery  endured  by  the  wretched 
victims  of  the  criminals,  in  weak,  not  to  say 
wicked,  commiseration  for  the  richly  deserved 
pains  and  penalties  the  assassins  have  brought 
upon  themselves." 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

BELINDA  HIMES  was  still  in  hiding  in  the 
U  cave  on  the  river-bank  where  she  had  taken 
refuge  at  the  first.  She  found  it  a  doleful 
abode,  but  scarcely  dared  venture  from  it  except 
under  cover  of  the  night,  when  with  the  owl 
and  the  bat  she  sallied  forth  from  her  lair  to 
prowl  about  the  country  in  search  of  food.  The 
supply  she  had  taken  with  her  from  the  raft  had 
long  since  become  exhausted,  and  she  was  on 
the  verge  of  starvation. 

Thus  pressed  by  hunger,  she  visited  fields, 
gardens,  and  hen-roosts  by  night,  appropriating 
to  her  own  use  such  eggs,  vegetables,  and  fruits 
as  she  could  lay  hands  upon  and  carry  away — 
sometimes  even  going  so  far  as  to  abstract  a 
young  chicken. 

Fortunately  there  were  fish  in  the  river,  and 
having  found  rod,  line,  and  a  hook  or  two  on 
the  raft,  she  was  able  occasionally  to  catch  one. 
So  she  managed  to  keep  soul  and  body  together, 
yet  not  very  much  more  than  that. 

It  was  a  dreadful  life  she  led— a  life  filled  with 
terror,  remorse,  and  despair.  Afraid  to  be 
seen  by  mortal  eye,  she  crouched  in  her  dark, 
damp,  unwholesome  den  through  the  long, 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.     193 

bright  summer  days,  shut  away  from  all  the 
beauty  and  fragrance  that  gladdened  the  hearts 
and  lives  of  those  whom  sin  and  crime  did  not 
compel  to  hide  from  the  light  of  the  sun,  and 
away  from  the  companionship  of  their  kind. 

Oh,  how  wearily  the  days  and  nights  dragged 
along !  Life  under  such  conditions  seemed 
little  worth,  yet  death  a  thing  to  shrink  from  in 
wild  affright. 

She  saw  no  one  and  knew  nothing  of  passing 
events.  She  supposed  her  husband  was  still 
living,  and  wondered  if,  when  he  should  be  able 
to  be  about  again,  he  would  make  an  effort  to 
find  her,  and  have  her  brought  to  trial  for  the 
crime  of  which  he  had  accused  her. 

She  thought  much  of  Phelim,  and  longed  to 
see  and  talk  with  him  ;  but  it  did  not  seem 
likely  they  would  ever  meet  again  ;  if  con- 
victed, he  would  doubtless  be  given  a  long  term 
in  the  penitentiary  ;  perhaps  it  would  be  a  life 
sentence.  She  was  glad  it  could  be  nothing 
worse  ;  hanging  was,  to  her  way  of  thinking, 
far  more  to  be  dreaded. 

She  would  have  gone  to  Prairieville  and  to  the 
jail,  seeking  an  interview  with  him,  could  she 
have  done  so  with  safety  to  herself  ;  but  she 
dared  not,  lest  she  should  be  made  to  share  his 
imprisonment,  both  there  and  in  the  State 
prison. 

One  day — the  same  on  which  Captain  Charl- 
ton  carried  to  Miriam  the  news  that  Himes  had 


194      THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

made  a  will  in  her  favor — Belinda,  lying  asleep 
in  her  cave,  was  awakened  by  the  sound  of 
voices  at  the  foot  of  the  bank.  She  started  with 
affright,  a  cold  perspiration  bursting  out  all 
over  her,  and  her  heart  beating  wildly.  She 
thought  they  were  climbing  up  to  her  retreat  ; 
perhaps  had  dogged  her  steps  as  she  returned  to 
it  some  hours  before,  and  had  come  to  arrest  her. 

But  after  listening  intently  for  a  few  minutes, 
she  decided  that  they  were  stationary  ;  prob- 
ably seated  near  the  water's  edge  and  engaged 
in  fishing,  which  was  indeed  the  case. 

Then  she  lay  down  again  with  her  ear  close 
to  the  overhanging  vines,  that  she  might  catch 
every  word  of  their  talk. 

They  were  speaking  of  Mr.  Himes,  and  as 
she  listened  with  breathless  interest,  she  pres- 
ently learned  of  the  second  and  successful  at- 
tempt upon  his  life.  She  drew  a  breath  of  re- 
lief, as  she  remembered  that  he  would  have  been 
the  principal  witness  against  Phelim. 

But  what  were  they  saying  now  ?  That 
Phelim  was  suspected  of  having  instigated  the 
murder,  and  that  there  was  talk  of  lynching 
him,  as  Bangs  had  been  lynched  only  the  day 
before  for  shooting  Barney  Nolan  down  dead. 

Horrible  !  horrible  !  She  was  almost  wild 
with  terror  on  Phelim's  account.  Oh,  if  she 
could  only  warn  him  !  if  she  could  only  help 
him  to  escape  from  the  jail  before  the  lynchers 
got  there  ! 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.     195 

Alas  !  that  was  impossible  ;  but  perhaps  there 
would  be  no  attempt  to  harm  him,  and  if  she 
were  in  that  neighborhood  she  might  go  near  to 
the  jail  in  the  night,  when  his  keepers  would  be 
asleep,  and  in  some  way  attract  his  attention, 
so  that  he  would  come  to  his  cell  window  and 
speak  to  her.  She  would  venture  a  good  deal 
even  to  hear  his  voice. 

She  fell  asleep  while  thinking  of  it,  for  she 
was  weary  \vith  the  wanderings  of  the  past 
night,  and  must  wait  for  the  sheltering  wing  of 
darkness  before  setting  out  upon  the  contem- 
plated journey  ;  and  she  had  no  preparation  to 
make  in  the  way  of  packing,  except  to  gather 
together  her  few  possessions  into  a  small  bundle 
that  she  could  carry  in  her  hand. 

She  rested  through  the  remainder  of  the  day, 
and  when  the  sunset  glow  had  faded  from  the 
sky,  and  darkness  began  creeping  over  the 
landscape,  crawled  from  her  hiding-place  and 
started  upon  her  toilsome  tramp,  following  the 
course  of  the  river,  which  she  knew  would 
finally  bring  her  to  her  destination. 

There  was  a  more  direct  route,  but  she  was  not 
acquainted  with  it,  and  dared  not  make  inquiries. 

Feeble  from  mental  suffering  and  lack  of  suffi- 
cient nourishment,  she  could  not  travel  fast. 
Two  nights  of  journeying,  lying  by  during  the 
days,  brought  her  at  last  to  the  vicinity  of 
Prairieviile. 

Day  was  breaking  when  she  arrived.     She 


196      THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

lay  concealed  in  the  woods  through  that  day 
and  evening,  till  nearly  every  light  in  the  town 
was  extinguished,  excepting  the  street  lamps, 
then  made  her  way  cautiously  to  the  jail,  which 
stood  upon  the  outskirts,  partly  surrounded  by 
a  grove  of  trees. 

All  was  darkness  and  silence  there  ;  probably 
keeper  and  prisoners  were  asleep. 

Slowly  she  made  the  circuit  of  the  building, 
gazing  up  at  the  grated  windows  and  trying  to 
conjecture  which  was  the  one  belonging  to 
Phelim's  cell. 

She  possessed  no  clew  to  it,  and  even  could 
she  decide  which  it  was,  how  was  she  to  attract 
his  attention  without  betraying  her  vicinity  to 
others  ? 

Suddenly  she  remembered  that  she  could 
imitate  very  closely  the  note  of  the  katydid, 
and  that  Phelim  had  once  heard  her  doing  so, 
and  complimented  her  on  the  accomplishment. 
She  tried  it  now,  stationing  herself  opposite  a 
cell  window,  which,  as  it  happened,  was  the  one 
she  sought. 

She  had  repeated  the  note  several  times,  when 
at  last  it  was  answered  in  kind  ;  then  a  voice, 
speaking  in  suppressed  tones,  asked,  "Is  it 
yersilf,  me  darlint  ?" 

"  Yes,  it's  me,  Phalim,"  she  replied,  in  a  joy- 
ous whisper,  stepping  close  under  the  window 
as  she  spoke.  "  Oh,  if  I  could  only  help  you 
out  o'  that  !" 


Tin:  TR. /<;/•;/>  Y  or  ir//./>  A'/r/.A'  VALLEY.    197 

"  Who  knows  but.  mabbi-  vc  kin  in  t.oiinc,  me 
jewel,"  he  said.  "  We'll  set  our  wits  to  wurruk, 
me  darlint.  If  I  had  a  file  now,  to  hilp  me  to 
git  rid  o'  wan  or  two  o'  these  bars,  it's  not  so 
hard  'twud  be  to  break  jail.  Thin  we'd  fly 
the  counthry  together,  an'  lave  throuble  behind 
us." 

"  I'd  risk  anything  to  help  you,"  she  re- 
sponded, "  but  how  or  where  I  could  get  a  file 
I  don't  see,  for  I  daren't  venture  to  show  myself 
to  a  livin'  soul." 

"  Is  that  so,  me  jewel  ?  But  what  fer  darsen't 
ye?" 

'  Because  he  swore  I'd  a  hand  in  robbin'  an* 
murderin'  him." 

11  Who?  that  ould  divil  Himes?  Well,  he's 
out  o'  the  way  now." 

"  Yes  ;  but  maybe  they'll  arrest  me  an*  try 
me  fer  it,  anyhow." 

41  Bangs'll  git  ye  off  if  they  do,"  he  said, 
with  a  low  chuckle.  '  He's  promised  to  bring 
me  off  wid  fly  in'  colors." 

"  But — but — he— he's  dead — Bangs  is  ;  they've 
lynched  him,  don't  ye  know  ?" 

"  Niver  heard  a  wurrud  o'  it.     Whan?" 

"  Four  days  ago." 

"  An'  that's  the  fuss  they  wuz  makin*  down 
the  stratewhan  I  heerd  'em  shoutin'  an'  yellin', 
loike  so  manny  divils  !  I  axed  the  jailor  what 
all  the  noise  wuz  about,  but  he  answered  me 
niver  a  wurrud  jist  walked  away  wicl  his  head 


198      THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

up  an'  his  mouth  toight  shut.  An'  here  I've 
been  a  wonderin'  an'  scoldin*  bekase  Bangs 
didn't  show  hisself  an'  lat  me  know  how  the 
bizniss  was  progressin'  ;  how  fast  he  wuz  gittin' 
ready  to  prove  till  the  coort  an'  jury  that 
Phalim  O'Rourke  wuz  as  innercent  o'  that  at- 
timpt  on  the  ould  man's  loife  as  an  unborn 
babby." 

"  But  he's  dead,  and  who'll  clear  ye  now?" 
she  asked,  mournfully. 

'  I'll  have  to  break  jail,  an'  ye  must  help  me, 
B'lindy." 

"  If  I  only  could,"  she  said,  and  her  voice 
was  weak  and  trembling  ;  "  but  I'm  half  dead 
now  ;  I  can  hardly  stand  fer  weakness.  I've 
been  hidin'  in  a  damp,  dark,  dirty  cave— the 
one  you  told  me  of — an'  I'm  nearly  starved  ; 
haven't  had  enough  to  eat  since— since  that 
night  on  the  raft.  If  'twas  light  enough  for 
you  to  see  me,  you'd  never  know  me  ;  I'm 
wasted  to  skin  an'  bone,  an'  my  clo'es  are  all 
rags  an'  dirt." 

"  Did  I  iver  hear  the  loike  !"  he  exclaimed. 
'  Well,  niver  moind,  me  jewel  ;  whan  I'm  a  free 
man  agin  I'll  soon  have  ye  a  wearin'  yer  foine 
silks  an'  satins  an'  goold  ornamints,  an'  drivin' 
in  yer  kerridge,  mabbe,  loike  anny  lady  in  the 
land." 

She  sighed  despairingly.  "  But  you'll  never 
be  able  to  break  out  o'  this  ;  an'  there's  nobody 
now  to  defend  ye  on  yer  trial.  They  say  'twas 


THE   TKAC.EDY  (>/•'  //'///>  Kll'ER   VALLEY.      199 

some  o'  your  band  that  finished  Mimes  ;  they 
say  'twas  by  your  orderin'.  Is  that  so  ?" 

14  Mabbe,"  he  chuckled  ;  "  the  byes  kno-.vcd 
me  moind  on  that  p'int ;  an*  they  knowed  the 
ould  divil  wad  be  the  wan  to  swear  away  me 
liberty,  if  he'd  a  chance  ;  but  dead  men  tells  no 
tales." 

44  I  wisht  they'd  let  him  live,"  she  sighed  ; 
1  'twould  have  been  better  fer  you." 

Then  she  went  on  to  tell  him  what  she  had 
overheard  the  men  at  the  river  say  about  the 
probability  of  an  attempt  to  lynch  him. 

While  this  talk  was  going  on  at  the  jail  win- 
dow, a  wagon  filled  with  masked  and  armed 
men  was  driving  toward  the  town  from  the 
direction  of  Fairfield,  another  along  the  road 
leading  from  Frederic,  a  third  coming  from 
Riverside,  while  a  fourth  waited  at  the  bridge 
over  the  river  at  Prairie ville,  where  the  other 
three  presently  joined  it.  Then  falling  into 
line,  they  drove  up  the  street  that  led  to  the  jail. 

As  they  neared  the  building  the  creaking  of 
their  wheels  struck  upon  Belinda's  ear. 

"Oh,  what's  that?"  she  cried,  in  startled 
tones,  though  half  under  her  breath.  '  Wagons 
—one,  two,  three,  four  -and  stoppin'  right  out 
there,  every  one  of  'em  !" 

"  So  they  are,  an'  all's  up  wid  me  !"  cried 
Phelim,  hoarsely,  adding  a  volley  of  oaths,  as 
he  grasped  the  bars  and  shook  them  fiercely  in 
t.he  frantic  but  vain  c'lTui  t  to  \vrciu  li  them  off. 


200    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY, 

The  men  were  already  alighting  and  pouring 
into  the  jail  yard  ;  then  came  a  thundering 
knock  upon  the  outer  door,  accompanied  by  a 
demand  for  instant  admittance. 

The  trembling  pair  at  the  cell  window  were 
still  listening,  Phelim  clinging  to  the  bars, 
Belinda  leaning  heavily  against  the  outer  wall, 
while  her  heart  beat  almost  to  suffocation  and 
her  breath  came  gaspingly.  They  heard  a  sec- 
ond-story window  raised  and  the  jailor's  voice 
in  parley  with  the  would-be  intruders. 

'  What  is  wanted,  gentlemen?"  he  asked. 

11  Admittance  ;  come  down  and  open  the 
door,"  answered  the  spokesman  of  the  party. 

'  We  don't  admit  visitors  at  this  time  o' 
night,"  said  the  jailor. 

"  Come  down  and  open  the  door,  or  we'll 
break  it  in,"  was  the  response,  in  a  tone  of 
fierce  determination. 

'  Who  are  you  ?"  asked  the  jailor. 

"  Himes's  avengers.  Give  the  murderer  into 
our  hands,  and  we  ask  nothing  more." 

"  Can't  do  it,  gentlemen.  He's  been  com- 
mitted to  my  care  by  the  officers  of  the  law, 
and  I've  no  "right  to  give  him  up  to  any  one 
else." 

'  We  don't  offer  you  any  choice  in  the  mat- 
ter ;  you'll  open  to  us  and  give  him  up,  or 
we'll  break  in  and  take  him  in  spite  of  you." 

Again  the  jailor  refused  to  accede  to  their 
demand  ;  then  thundering  blows  of  axes  and 


/•///•:    TKAC.EDY  Oh    !('//./>  A'/l'S-A'    I'ALLEY.     2OI 


wielded  by  strong  arms  fell  fast  and 
thick  on  the  door,  the  noise  resounding  through 
the  building  and  striking  terror  to  every  hearer 
within  its  walls. 

At  length  the  door  gave  way,  the  assailants 
poured  into  the  hall  and  seized  the  jailor,  who 
had  Come  down,  lamp  in  hand,  and  would  have 
tried  to  persuade  them  to  resign  their  purpose  ; 
but  they  would  not  hear  a  word  from  him.  As 
he  refused  to  give  up  his  keys,  they  bound  him 
hand  and  foot  and  took  forcible  possession  of 
them,  then  hastened  to  the  cell  wherein  their 
intended  victim  was  confined. 

The  noise  of  the  struggle  with  the  jailor,  the 
tramp  of  heavy  feet  traversing  the  corridors, 
the  fitting  of  the  key  in  the  lock  of  the  cell 
door,  all  reached  the  ears  of  Phelim  and  Belinda, 
causing  both  their  hearts  to  quake  with  terror. 
Belinda  held  her  breath  to  listen,  while  trembling 
so  that  she  could  scarce  keep  from  falling  to  the 
ground. 

The  heavy  door  of  the  cell  swung  back,  and 
for  a  moment  the  little  apartment  was  flooded 
with  light  from  a  lamp  held  high  in  the  hand  of 
one  of  the  masked  intruders. 

He  stood  aside  while  four  or  five  of  his  com- 
pany filed  rapidly  in,  and  laid  hold  of  the  pris- 
oner with  no  gentle  hands. 

Phelim  saw  at  a  glance  that  resistance  was 
useless.  With  a  face  pale  as  death,  eyes  almost 
ready  to  start  from  their  sockets,  quivering 


202     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

lips,  and  in  a  tone  that  he  vainly  endeavored  to 
make  steady  and  defiant, ' '  What  are  yees  af ther, 
sors  ?"  he  demanded.  'Yees  haven't  anny 
roight  to  be  comin'  in  here,  fer  I'm  undher  the 
pertection  o'  the  law." 

But  even  while  he  spoke  they  had  pinioned 
his  arms,  and  now  surrounding  him,  they  led 
him  out  through  the  corridors,  the  outer  door, 
the  jail-yard,  and  into  the  grove,  where  they 
halted  with  him  under  a  large  oak-tree. 

A  man  was  seated  on  its  largest  branch  with 
a  rope  in  his  hand,  one  end  of  which  he  had 
already  attached  to  the  limb  ;  at  the  other  was 
a  noose,  which  was  quickly  adjusted  about 
Phelim's  neck  ;  then  he  was  forced  to  mount 
into  a  wagon  that  had  been  driven  up  under 
the  tree. 

He  kicked,  cursed,  and  swore  fearful  oaths, 
but  found  resistance  vain  ;  strong  hands  pulled, 
pushed,  and  lifted  him  into  the  vehicle  and  held 
him  there. 

"  Now,"  said  a  stern  voice,  "  you  have  but 
five  minutes  to  live  ;  better  stop  cursing  and 
spend  your  breath  in  prayer. ' ' 

"  Yees  are  murtherin'  me  ;  ye're  goin'  further 
nor  the  law  o'  the  State,  black-hearted  scoun- 
drels that  ye  are  !"  he  cried,  fiercely. 

'  You  are  receiving  the  due  reward  of  your 
deeds,"  answered  the  voice.  "  The  minutes 
are  going  ;  better  spend  your  last  breath  in  an 
effort  to  save  your  soul." 


77/E   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.      203 

The  curses  died  on  the  lips  of  the  ruffian  ;  he 
looked  up  at  the  starlit  sky,  down  and  around 
on  the  crowd  of  dark  figures  and  masked  faces. 

"  Gintlemen,  hain't  none  o*  yees  got  no  pity 
fer  the  ould  mither  and  fayther  that  hasn't  niver 
a  sowl  to  wurruk  fer  'em  an'  suppoort  'em  in 
their  fable  ould  age,  barrin'  their  only  son  as 
stands  here  wid  a  rope  round  his  neck?"  he 
asked. 

"  A  son  who  has  supported  them  by  robbery 
and  murder  !"  cried  the  same  stern  voice  that 
had  spoken  before.  '  The  time  is  up.  Your 
blood  be  on  your  own  head  !"  it  added,  and  at 
a  signal  the  wagon  moved  from  under  the  cul- 
prit, and  left  him  dangling  high  in  air,  the 
noose  tightening  about  his  neck. 

The  stern  executioners  stood  watching  him 
by  the  light  of  their  lanterns  till  fully  satisfied 
that  life  was  extinct,  then  crowded  into  their 
wagons  and  drove  away  as  they  had  come. 

At  the  moment  of  their  entrance  into  the  cell 
Belinda  staggered  back  into  the  shadow  of  a 
tree,  at  some  little  distance  from  the  one  they 
had  selected  as  a  gallows,  from  which,  in  an 
agony  of  woe,  she  witnessed  the  whole  dreadful 
scene.  She  was  in  terror  for  herself,  lest  she 
might  be  made  to  share  Phelim's  fate,  yet  that 
fear  was  almost  swallowed  up  for  the  time  in 
the  anguish  of  grief  for  him  that  wrung  her 
heart,  as  she  looked  upon  the  tragedy  that 
ended  the  earthly  life  of  the  man  she  still 


204     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

loved,  deeply  dyed  villain  though  she  knew  him 
to  be. 

She  clung  to  the  tree  for  support,  while  eye 
and  ear  were  intent  to  catch  every  expression 
of  his  countenance  and  tone  of  his  voice.  But 
the  flickering  light  of  the  lanterns  gave  her  only 
fitful  glimpses  of  his  features,  and  the  oaths  and 
curses  that  fell  from  his  lips  were  not  such 
words  as  even  she  would  desire  to  treasure  up 
in  her  memor}-,  for  they  inspired  her  with  no 
hope  that  he  was  going  to  a  better  and  happier 
world. 

When  she  saw  the  wagon  driven  from  under 
him,  and  knew  that  the  deed  was  accomplished, 
she  fell  in  a  heap  at  the  foot  of  the  tree  to 
which  she  had  been  clinging,  and  knew  noth- 
ing more  till  roused  to  consciousness  by  the 
sound  of  the  wheels  of  the  departing  vehicles. 

Feebly  she  raised  herself  to  a  sitting  posture, 
then  glanced  fearfully  around  till  fully  con- 
vinced that  the  self-constituted  executioners 
were  gone  not  to  return  ;  then,  getting  upon 
her  feet  like  one  who  had  scarce  strength  to 
move,  she  dragged  herself  to  the  other  tree, 
where  the  body  was  hanging. 

It  was  swaying  slowly  in  the  night  wind. 

"  Phelim  !"  she  cried,  hoarsely — "  Phelim, 
speak  to  me  !  Oh,  it  can't  be  that  ye'll  never 
speak  again  !  Yes,  he's  dead  ;  they'd  never 
leave  him  till  they  was  sure  o'  that !  Oh,  me 
heart's  broke  !  I  ain't  got  nothin'  to  live  fer 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     205 

no  more  !  I  might's  well  a  let  'em  hang  me, 
too  !"  and  weeping,  shuddering,  tottering  with 
weakness,  she  crept  away  to  her  hiding-place 
in  the  woods. 

She  had  no  bed  but  the  ground,  no  covering 
save  the  starry  canopy  of  heaven  ;  she  had  no 
earthly  friend,  and  had  never  cared  to  seek  the 
friendship  of  that  One  "  who  sticketh  closer 
than  a  brother." 

How  utterly  lonely  and  desolate  she  felt  as 
she  lay  moaning  and  groaning  upon  her  hard 
couch,  weeping  as  if  she  would  weep  her  very 
life  away,  longing  to  lay  down  the  burdens  and 
sorrows  of  life,  yet  shrinking  in  unspeakable 
terror  from  the  thought  of  death. 

Some  words  that  she  had  heard,  she  knew  not 
when  or  where,  kept  sounding  in  her  ears, 
'  The  way  of  transgressors  is  hard."  '  The 
wages  of  sin  is  death."  How  the  truth  of  those 
inspired  declarations  had  been  verified  in 
Bangs's  case,  in  Phelim's,  and  in  her  own  ! 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

TWO  days  after  the  death  of  Bangs,  Mr.  Wiley 
went  for  his  wife,  who  was  visiting  ac- 
quaintances a  day's  journey  from  home. 

He  shrank  from  the  task  of  telling  her  the 
story  of  the  dreadful  scenes  enacted  in  Prairie- 
ville  during  her  absence,  but  the  tidings  had 
preceded  him,  and  he  found  her  lying  on  a 
couch  in  strong  hysterics. 

She  greeted  him  with  bitter  reproaches — 
"  Why  had  he  not  exerted  himself  to  save  poor, 
dear  A  very  from  the  fury  of  the  mob  ?" 

"  I  couldn't,"  he  said  ;  "  you  might  just  as 
reasonably  ask  me  why  I  do  not  prevent  the 
lightning  from  striking  where  it  will." 

"  Don't  talk  in  that  way  to  me  !"  she  cried, 
in  passionate  tones  ;  "  you  didn't  try  ;  you 
didn't  make  the  slightest  effort  ;  the  papers 
would  have  said  so  if  you  had  ;  you  were  too 
great  a  coward  to  lift  a  finger  to  save  him." 

"  Have  it  your  own  way,"  he  returned, 
gloomily  ;  "  it's  a  thousand  pities  you  were  not 
there  to  quell  the  fury  of  the  mob,  and  turn 
them  from  so  many  tigers,  thirsting  for  blood, 
into  lambs  ;  you  could  have  done  it,  of  course  ; 
there's  nothing  you  can't  do,  except  treat  your 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    207 

husband  decently,"  he  added,  with  bitter  em- 
phasis. 

It  pleased  her  to  ignore  that  last  clause  of  his 
reply. 

4  I'd  have  tried,  anyhow,"  she  said  ;  "I'd 
have  helped  him  to  escape  from  them.  Where 
is  he  now  ?" 

"  You  are  as  capable  of  deciding  that  ques- 
tion as  I,"  he  answered,  turning  away  with  a 
slight  shudder. 

'  You  misunderstand  me  wilfully,"  she  said, 
her  eyes  flashing  with  anger.  '  I  want  to  know 
what  you  have  done  with  his  body." 

"  Buried  it,"  he  returned,  laconically. 

14  Buried  it?  without  consulting  me  !  without 
letting  me  know  !  without  giving  me  time  to 
attend  the  funeral !  How  dared  you,  Amos 
Wiley  !" 

'  I  thought  that,  under  the  peculiar  circum- 
stances, the  best  thing  to  be  done  was  to  put 
the  body  into  the  ground  as  quietly  and  with 
as  little  fuss  as  possible  ;  and  he  would  not  have 
been  a  pleasant  sight  for  you  to  look  upon." 

4  What  do  you  mean,  Amos  Wiley  ?"  she  de- 
manded, starting  up  to  a  sitting  posture  and 
regarding  him  with  looks  of  fury  and  indigna- 
tion ;  4<  that  you  had  no  funeral  services,  but 
gave  him,  my  brother,  the  burial  of  a  dog  ?" 

"  I  had  no  thought  of  that,"  he  said  ;  "  I  laid 
him  away  decently  and  quietly,  that  was  all. 
I  did  not  suppose  you  would  feel  like  having  a 


208     THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

funeral,  considering  how  the  neighbors  and  all 
the  townspeople  must  have  regarded  his  death, 
and — and  the  cause  of  it." 

'  You  mean  that  they  thought  him  disgraced, 
and  that  I'd  feel  ashamed  of  him  and  of — of 
what  he  did,  and  the  way  he  lost  his  life  ?  No 
such  thing  !  I  consider  him  a  martyr,  and 
should  have  gloried  in  showing  everybody  that 
I  thought  so." 

He  gave  her  a  look  of  utter  astonishment. 
'  You  needn't  look  at  me  so  !"    she   cried. 
"  He   killed   that   impudent    Irishman   in   self- 
defence  ;  I  know  he  did  !" 

(<  Self-defence  !  The  man  was  doing  nothing 
but  walking  peaceably  along  the  street  behind 
him,  attending  to  his  own  business." 

"  Were  you  alongside?  Did  you  see  and 
hear  it  all?" 

"  No  ;  but  there  were  credible  witnesses  who 
did  ;  and  if  the  shooting  had  not  been  so  un- 
provoked, the  bystanders  would  not  have  be- 
come the  furious  mob  that  they  instantly  did. 
I  tell  you,  Dora,  you  had  best  keep  quiet  about 
the  whole  affair,  and,  in  fact,  I  think  it  may  be 
our  wisest  course  to  move  away  to  some  dis- 
tant part  of  the  country,  where  the  story  will 
not  be  likely  to  follow  us." 

"  I  shall  do  nothing  of  the  sort,"  she  said. 

'  It  would  be  a  losing  business  to  sell  out  our 

property  in  Prairieville  and  go  to  a  new  place. 

'  A  rolling   stone  gathers   no   moss/      I'll   go 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.    209 

home  ;  we'll  start  directly,  and  I'll  let  the 
neighbors  see  that  I  don't  feel  myself  in  the 
least  disgraced  by  what  has  passed." 

They  reached  Prairieville  in  the  evening  of 
the  same  day  that  Belinda  arrived  in  the  vicin- 
ity. Early  the  next  morning  Mr.  Wiley  went 
down-town  on  some  errand.  Returning  half 
an  hour  later,  he  appeared  before  his  wife  with 
a  ghastly  and  disturbed  countenance. 

4  What  are  we  coming  to  ?"  he  sighed,  wip- 
ing the  perspiration  from  his  forehead.  '  There 
was— another  lynching— last  night ;  armed, 
masked  men — four  wagon  loads  of  them— broke 
into  the  jail,  took  Phelim  O'Rourke  and  hung 
him  to  a  tree  right  there  alongside  of  the  build- 
ing ;  and  his  body's  swinging  there  yet,  they 
say.  I  believe  they  are  about  taking  it  down, 
however,  and  home  to  the  old  folks.  They've 
held  an  inquest,  and  the  verdict  is  that  he  came 
to  his  death  by  the  hands  of  persons  unknown." 

"  Dreadful  !"  she  cried.     "  But  who  did  it?" 

14  Nobody  seems  to  know  or  wants  to  know. 
I've  told  you  what  the  verdict  of  the  coroner 
was  ;  but  it's  said  the  best  citizens  of  this  town 
and  Frederic,  Riverside,  and  Fairfield  had  a 
hand  in  it.  You  see  they  knew  the  law  would 
never  hang  him,  and  were  determined  he  should 
have  his  deserts  ;  not  only  to  punish  him,  but 
to  discourage  other  scoundrels  from  following 
his  example." 

44  Well,  I'm  glad  !      He  ought  to  have  been 


210      THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

hung  ;  if  it  hadn't  been  for  him  Avery  would 
be  alive  to-day  ;  but  my  poor  brother  sacrificed 
himself  to  save  that  miserable  wretch  from 
being  sent  to  State  prison." 

"  Sacrificed  himself  by  swearing  to  .a  lie," 
was  her  husband's  inward  comment,  but  aloud 
he  merely  remarked  that  he  pitied  O'Rourke's 
parents. 

"  Yes,  of  course  you  do,"  snapped  his  wife  ; 
'  you  are  always  ready  to  feel  for  anybody  but 
those  nearest  to  you.  You  have  no  sympathy 
to  waste  upon  May  and  me,  but  those  low,  vul- 
gar Irish  people  are  objects  of  the  deepest  com- 
miseration." 

"  I  have  done  my  best  to  show  sympathy 
with  you  and  your  niece,  Dora,"  he  returned  ; 
14  but  you  are  never  just  to  your  unfortunate 
husband." 

'  Unfortunate  because  he  has  me  for  a  wife, 
I  presume  you  mean,"  she  retorted,  flashing  an 
angry  glance  at  him.  '  Breakfast  has  been 
waiting  for  you  till  it  must  be  completely  spoiled. 
Come  and  eat,  if  you  can  find  an  appetite  after 
such  heartless  treatment  of  your  wife." 

She  led  the  way  to  the  table,  he  following  in 
silence,  having  learned  by  past  experience  the 
utter  uselessness  of  trying  to  have  the  last  word 
in  a  controversy  with  her. 

"  You  don't  eat  as  if  you  relished  your  food 
the  least  bit,"  she  .remarked,  after  watching 
him  furtively  for  a  few  minutes  ;  *'  but  if  you 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.     211 

don't  find  it  palatable  it's  your  own  fault  for 
keeping  it  waiting  so  long." 

4  I  have  no  complaint  to  make,"  he  an- 
swered, "  but  I  am  too  sick  at  heart  over  the 
awful  doings  we've  had  in  this  town  of  late  to 
feel  much  appetite  for  the  daintiest  of  food." 
With  that  he  rose  and  left  the  table  and  the  house. 

Coming  in  some  hours  later,  he  found  his 
wife  in  what  had  been  the  private  office  of  her 
brother,  looking  over  his  papers. 

"I'm  not  exactly  sure  that  you  have  a  right 
to  be  at  those,  Dora,"  he  remarked,  in  a  tone 
of  mild  expostulation. 

44  I'd  like  to  know  who  has  a  better  !"  she 
retorted,  straightening  herself  with  an  angry, 
defiant  look  up  into  his  face,  as  he  came  and 
stood  at  her  side.  "I'm  Avery's  nearest  of 
kin,  and  therefore  his  heir." 

"  But  there  may  be  a  will." 

"  No  ;  there  isn't.  I've  hunted  everywhere, 
and  there's  nothing  of  the  kind  to  be  found." 

"  Still,  even  in  that  case  you  are  not  his  only 
heir." 

4  I  am,  though  ;  for  we  two  were  the  last  of 
the  family." 

4  Yes  ;  but  you  forget  that  May  inherits  her 
mother's  share." 

14  She  sha'n't !  I  won't  hear  of  it !  That  chit 
of  a  child,  indeed  !  She'll  get  it  when  I'm 
gone,  if  she  outlives  me,  but  I  shall  hold  on  to 
it  till  then." 


212     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

But  you  can't,  unless  there's  a  will  leaving 
it  all  to  you  ;  for  otherwise  the  law  will  give 
her  an  equal  share." 

"  But  if  we  don't  choose  to  let  anybody  know 
what  he  has  left?"  she  asked,  frowningly,  yet 
with  some  slight  hesitation. 

There,  now,"  said  her  husband,  "  don't  you 
see  why  you  have  no  right  to  come  here  alone 
and  examine  his  effects  ?" 

She  opened  her  hand,  showing  a  roll  of  bank- 
notes. 

4  This  ready  money  I  ought  to  have  a  right 
to  take,  to  use  for  May  and  myself,  and  I'm 
going  to  do  it ;  we  need  it  at  once  to  buy  our 
mourning  and  other  things." 

He  looked  troubled,  for  though  honest  and 
upright  in  his  dealings,  he  yet  dreaded  to  op- 
pose her  will. 

"  Let  me  see  those  notes,"  he  requested,  hold- 
ing out  his  hand. 

She  allowed  him  to  take  them,  remarking  as 
he  did  so,  "  It's  quite  a  nice  sum — considerably 
over  a  thousand  dollars. 

' '  Yes, ' '  he  said,  turning  them  about  with  care- 
ful scrutiny,  "  but — " 

'  What  ?' '  she  asked,  sharply. 

"  They're  all  marked  ;  they're  the  missing 
notes  stolen  from  Lakeside  ;  I  know,  for  I've 
had  a  particular  description  of  them  from  Sandy 
McAllister." 

"Well?" 


THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.     213 

41  Of  course  we  must  restore  them  to  the 
rightful  owners  ;  we  wouldn't  be  guilty  of  fraud, 
and  we  couldn't  use  these  bills  without  detec- 
tion, even  if  we  didn't  care  for  the  dishonesty 
of  appropriating  them." 

"  But  that  girl  !"  she  hissed  through  her 
clinched  teeth  ;  "  she  rejected  my  brother,  and 
I'm  determined  she  shall  be  punished  for  it. 
Here's  a  mortgage  on  Lakeside,"  laying  her 
hand  on  the  paper  as  she  spoke  ;  "  Avery 
bought  it  to  have  her  in  his  power,  and  he  told 
me  he'd  foreclose  and  turn  them  out  of  house 
and  home  if  the  saucy  minx  held  out  against 
his  advances.  Now  it's  my  property,  and  I 
mean  to  foreclose  without  giving  her  any  alter- 
native ;  then  the  place  will  be  mine,  and  we'll 
go  there  and  live.  I've  always  had  a  hankering 
after  it ;  it's  the  prettiest  place  in  all  the  region 
round,  to  my  way  of  thinking." 

"  But,  Dora,  you  couldn't  really  contem- 
plate so  mean,  not  to  say  dishonest  a  proce- 
dure ?"  he  exclaimed,  in  surprise  and  dismay. 

"  Dishonest  !"  she  cried,  with  rising  wrath  ; 
"  where's  the  dishonesty?  Haven't  la  right 
to  foreclose  and  sell  the  property  to  get  my 
money  if  they  don't  pay  up  their  interest  ?" 

"  But  they  will  when  we  hand  them  these  bills, 
which  we  know  to  have  been  stolen  from  them." 

"  Hand  them  the  notes  and  let  them  know 
they  were  found  among  Avery 's  possessions, 
and  have  them  blackening  his  character — telling 


214     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

that  he  was  the  thief  or  the  receiver,  that's  as 
bad  as  the  thief?"  she  exclaimed,  with  fury. 
"  I'll  do  no  such  thing  ;  I'll  defend  my  brother's 
character  to  the  last  gasp  !"  she  added,  with 
virtuous  indignation. 

He  turned  away  and  paced  the  room  back  and 
forth  for  a  few  moments  ;  then,  returning  to  her 
side,  "  Dora,"  he  said,  with  unwonted  decision, 
"  to  keep  back  these  notes  from  the  rightful 
owners  would  be  as  bad  as  stealing,  and  I  will 
be  no  party  to  any  such  dishonest  dealing." 

"  You've  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  it," 
she  interrupted,  hotly. 

"  Unfortunately  I  have,"  he  responded,  "  and 
I  insist  on  taking  to  the  Heaths  this  property, 
which  is  rightfully  theirs.  I  shall  tell  them  we 
do  not  know  or  understand  how  these  notes 
happened  to  be  found  here  among  your  brother's 
papers,  and  shall  try  to  exact  from  them  a 
promise  not  to  reveal  the  fact  to  any  one.  I 
think  I  shall  have  no  difficulty  in  persuading 
them  to  that." 

'  Then  we'll  lose  the  place,"  she  said,  grind- 
ing her  teeth  with  rage.  "  I'll  not  consent." 

'  We  can't  lose  what  we  never  owned,"  he 
returned  ;  "  and  I  for  one  could  never  enjoy  it 
if  gained  by  means  so  unfair  and  cruel." 

She  continued  her  opposition  for  some  time 
longer,  but  to  her  unbounded  astonishment 
found  him  for  once  firm  in  his  determination  not 
to  surrender  to  her  will. 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    215 

He  presently  took  the  notes  from  her  unwill- 
ing hand  and  forthwith  departed  for  Lakeside. 

Great  was  the  joy  there  when  his  errand  was 
made  known  and  accomplished.  The  promise 
he  asked  for  was  readily  given,  accompanied 
with  hearty  thanks  for  the  restoration  of  the 
notes. 

Then  Miriam  said,  "  Mr.  Bangs  told  me  he 
had  bought  the  mortgage  on  our  place,  and 
now  we  would  like  to  buy  it  of  his  heirs  ;  the 
money  is  ready  to  be  paid  down  at  any  time." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,"  returned  Mr.  Wiley, 
emphatically,  "and  I  think  the  matter  can  be 
arranged  very  shortly." 

When  he  had  taken  his  departure  the  grand- 
mother, Miriam,  and  Ronald  exchanged  looks 
and  words  of  congratulation  ;  their  hearts  were 
full  of  joy. 

"  We  must  get  Warren  to  attend  to  this  busi- 
ness for  us,  grandmother  and  Mirry,"  Ronald 
said,  giving  his  sister  a  mischievous,  bantering 
look  as  he  concluded  his  sentence. 

"  I  think  we  could  not  do  better,"  Mrs. 
Heath  replied,  turning  an  inquiring  glance  upon 
her  granddaughter. 

44  I  entirely  agree  with  you,  grandma,"  re- 
joined Miriam,  quietly.  "  Suppose  you  write 
him  a  note  stating  the  facts,  Ronald,  of  course 
keeping  back  the  one  we  have  promised  not  to 
reveal." 

"  Certainly  ;    with  all  my   heart,"    returned 


21 6     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

the  young  man.  "  I  shall  urge  him  to  call  at 
once  and  give  us  his  opinion  and  advice.  By 
the  way,  he  hasn't  been  here  since  he  came  to 
tell  you  the  good  news  in  regard  to  Himes's 
will." 

Miriam  did  not  seem  to  hear.  She  had  caught 
sight  of  a  carriage  nearing  their  gate,  and  hur- 
ried out  to  receive  Dr.  Jasper  and  Serena,  who, 
she  perceived,  were  its  occupants. 

These  good  friends  were  soon  told  of  the 
good  fortune  that  had  come  to  the  Lakeside 
family,  and  responded  to  the  tidings  with  hearty 
congratulations  and  good  wishes. 

A  good  deal  of  lively,  cheery  chat  followed, 
and  for  a  short  space  Miriam  seemed  as  gay  as 
the  rest,  but  erelong  Serena  noticed  an  expres- 
sion of  deep  sadness  steal  over  her  speaking 
countenance,  when  for  a  moment  the  stream  of 
talk  had  drifted  past  her,  and  she  was  unaware 
that  any  eye  was  regarding  her. 

"  Miriam,  my  dear,  won't  you  invite  me  into 
your  garden  to  look  at  your  roses?"  Serena 
asked,  with  one  of  her  winsome  smiles. 

"  Certainly  ;  I  shall  be  delighted  to  show 
them,"  Miriam  answered,  a  bright,  pleased 
look  taking  the  place  of  the  former  sorrowful 
one,  as  she  rose  and  led  the  way.  ;<  The  doctor 
may  come,  too,  if  he  likes." 

"  No,  no,  he  mayn't !  I  want  you  to  myself 
for  a  little  while,"  said  Serena,  laughingly. 
"  Please  just  stay  where  you  are,  Alonzo,  and 


THE   TKA  GED  Y  OF  WILD  RI J  T.K   I  'A  1. 1 1.  Y.     217 

do  your  best  to  entertain  Mrs.  Heath  and  Mr. 
Ronald." 

Roses  of  many  beautiful  varieties  formed  a 
prominent  feature  of  the  flower-garden  at  Lake- 
side. Serena  went  about  among  them  exclaim- 
ing, admiring,  asking  questions  in  regard  to 
names  and  the  proper  treatment  for  bringing 
them  to  perfection,  but  in  the  midst  of  it  all 
turned  suddenly  upon  her  friend  with  the  query, 
"  What's  the  matter  with  you,  my  dear  ?  Why 
are  you  sad  now,  when  delivered  from  your 
tormentor  and  provided  with  a  small  fortune 
over  and  above  what  it  will  take  to  clear  off  the 
mortgage  that  has  given  you  so  much  anxiety 
and  heartache  ?" 

14  Why  do  you  think  me  sad,  Mrs.  Serena?" 
returned  Miriam,  with  playful  look  and  tone, 
though  a  bright  blush  mantled  her  cheek. 

44  Oh,  I  have  eyes,"  was  the  laconic  answer. 

44  And  do  they  tell  you  I  am  sad?"  asked 
Miriam,  smiling  brightly. 

14  Not  at  this  moment,  my  sweet,  pretty  maid  ; 
but  they  caught  a  different  look  a  while  ago 
from  that  presented  to  them  now.  Am  I  right 
in  my  conjecture  that  the  course  of  true  love 
does  not  run  smooth  ?  Pray  believe,  dear,  that 
I  do  not  ask  from  any  vulgar  curiosity,  but 
from  a  sincere  desire  and  hope  to  be  able  to 
give  both  sympathy  and  help,"  she  added,  tak- 
ing Miriam's  hand  and  pressing  it  affectionau-lv 
in  both  of  hers.  "  That  Warren  Charlton  is 


2i8      THE   TRAGEDY  OF   WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

deeply  enamored  of  you  I  am  positively  certain, 
and  as  he,  too,  is  looking  woebegone  without 
apparent  reason,  to  what  other  conclusion  can 
I  come  than  that  the  roughness  of  true  love's 
course  is  making  misery  for  you  both  ?" 

"  Captain  Charlton  has  never  breathed  a  word 
of  love  to  me,"  Miriam  said,  blushing  more 
vividly  than  before,  "so  of  course  there  has 
been  no  lover's  quarrel  between  us  ;  but  surely 
the  horrors  of  the  last  week  are  enough  to  ac- 
count for  a  feeling  of  depression,  especially  in 
one  who —  Oh,  Serena,  I  think  you  do  not 
know  that  it  was  I  who  had  put  Bangs  into 
such  a  rage  that  he  shot  poor  Barney  Nolan, 
and  was  lynched  in  consequence  !  Oh,  I  can- 
not yet  get  over  the  feeling  that  I — I  am  partly 
to  blame — partly  responsible  for  it  all !"  she 
added,  averting  her  face,  while  the  big  tears 
rolled  down  her  cheeks. 

' '  And  that  was  what  made  you  look  so  over- 
whelmed when  you  heard  the  news  of  that  lynch- 
ing !"  cried  Serena,  catching  her  friend  in  her 
arms  and  holding  her  close.  "  Ah  !  I  knew  very 
well  it  could  not  possibly  be  that  you  cared  in 
the  very  least  for  that  double-dyed  villain  and 
cowardly  assassin  ;  but  I  could  not  divest  War- 
ren Charlton  of  some  slight  lingering  suspicion 
or  fear  that  you  might  have  had  some  little 
liking  for  him." 

'  I  knew  it !"  cried  Miriam,  her  eyes  filling 
with  tears  of  mingled  grief  and  indignation  ; 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.    2ig 

"  I  felt  how  grossly  he  misunderstood  my  emo- 
tion on  hearing  of  the  awful  fate  of  the  man  who 
was  my  worst  enemy,  and  whom  I  so  thor- 
oughly detested.  But,  oh,  how  could  he,  how 
could  he  for  a  moment  think  that  I  could  have 
any  admiration  for  the  man  whose  character 
you  have  so  truly  described  ?' ' 

'  It's  a  perfect  shame  that  he  should,"  said 
Serena  ;  "  but  I'll  set  him  right  on  that  point. 
Oh,  you  needn't  give  me  such  a  frightened, 
beseeching  look,  my  child  ;  I've  no  notion  of 
compromising  you  by  affording  him  the  smallest 
excuse  for  imagining  that  you  care  for  him  in 
the  least ;  and  I'll  try  to  impress  upon  him  that 
my  friend,  Miriam  Heath,  is  a  prize  far  beyond 
the  deserts  of  any  man  of  my  acquaintance, 
barring  one  who  is  already  appropriated,"  she 
added,  laughingly. 

Thank  you.  That  is  even  more  than  I 
could  ask,"  Miriam  said,  with  a  smile.  "  Serena, 
you  and  the  doctor  must  stay  to  tea." 

4  Thank  you,  kindly,  but  we  must  hurry 
home  on  account  of  the  children.  Besides,  the 
doctor  has  a  call  to  make  before  tea,"  Mrs. 
Jasper  answered.  Then,  drawing  out  her  watch, 
"  Ah  !  it  is  time  we  were  off  now.  I  must  run 
in  again  and  remind  Alonzo." 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  doctor  set  his  wife  down  at  their  own 
gate,  then  drove  on  to  make  the  call  she 
had  spoken  of.  Serena  stood  still  for  a  moment, 
sending  glances  up  and  down  the  street,  debat- 
ing in  her  own  mind  whether  she  should  or 
should  not  run  over  to  Charlton's  office,  less 
than  a  square  away,  and  say  a  few  words  that 
were  burning  on  the  tip  of  her  tongue. 

The  question  was  decided  for  her  by  seeing 
him  approaching. 

"  Good-evening,  sir,"  she  said,  nodding  and 
smiling  ;  "  won't  you  come  in  ?" 

He  returned  her  greeting  and  accepted  her 
invitation,  asking,  "  Have  you  some  news  for 
me  ?  I  seem  to  read  tidings  in  your  face." 

'  Yes  ;  I  have  found  out  to  a  certainty  that 
you  were  wrong  and  I  was  right  in  that  little 
talk  we  had  the  other  day." 

"  Pardon  me,  but  I  am  not  quite  sure  that  I 
understand  to  what  you  refer,  my  good  lady,"  he 
said,  lightly,  following  her  into  the  porch,  where 
she  gave  him  a  chair,  taking  another  near  at 
hand  herself. 

1  I  am  just  from  Lakeside,"  she  said,  giving 
him  a  mischievous  look  and  smfle.  "  I've  had 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.    221 

a  private  interview  with  my  iriend  Miriam,  and 
learned  from  her  own  lips  that  she  utterly  de- 
tested Bangs  on  account  of  his  odious  character, 
and  that  her  emotion  on  hearing  of  his  awful 
end  was  because  he  had  gone  directly  from  an 
interview  with  her,  in  which  her  firm  refusal  to 
accept  the  offer  of  his  hand  had  put  him  in  a 
towering  passion,  and  that  had  led  to  his  murder 
of  Barney  Nolan,  for  which,  as  you  know,  he 
was  lynched.  So  poor,  dear  Miriam  felt  at  the 
time  of  hearing  what  had  happened  that  she 
was  partly  responsible  for  their  deaths,  and  she 
can't  even  yet  quite  put  aside  the  feeling." 

Charlton's  countenance  had  grown  radiant. 

14  A  thousand  thanks,  my  dear  Mrs.  Jasper  !" 
he  exclaimed;  "you  have  lifted  a  load  from 
my  mind,  for,  as  I  see  you  have  already  guessed, 
I  am  deeply  in  love  with  Miss  Miriam.  Yet, 
after  all,"  he  sighed,  a  look  of  doubt  and  uncer- 
tainty taking  the  place  of  the  other,  "  I  may  fail 
to  win  the  prize  I  so  covet,  for  I  am  quite  sensi- 
ble that  it  is  far  beyond  my  deserts." 

"  I  entirely  agree  with  you,  sir,"  she  said, 

teasingly.       '  I  know  of  no  one  (now   in  the 

market)    whom    I   consider   worthy  of   Miriam 

i  h.     She  is,  in  my  estimation,  a  diamond  of 

the  first  water." 

' '  She  is,  indeed  !  And  you  would  discourage 
me  from  seeking  to  win  her?" 

"  No  ;  there's  nothing  like  trying.  As  far  as 
1  know  she  does  not  dislike  you,  and  who  can 


222     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

tell  but  you  might  in  time,  by  clever  courting, 
teach  her  to  really  care  for  you  ?  I  will  say 
for  your  consolation  that  I  think  you  as  worthy 
of  her  as  any  other  unmarried  man  of  my  ac- 
quaintance. " 

"Thank  you,"  he  said.  "  You  found  them 
all  well  at  Lakeside  ?" 

4  Yes,  and  rejoicing  over  a  piece  of  good  for- 
tune— the  recovery  of  the  stolen  notes  ;  though 
where  they  came  from  is  a  profound  secret." 

She  enjoyed  his  surprise  and  pleasure,  and  in 
answer  to  a  question  or  two,  went  on  to  give 
him  the  whole  story,  adding  that  he  was  to  be 
sent  for  to  attend  to  the  business  arrangements 
for  them. 

;<  I'll  go  over  at  once  and  save  them  the 
trouble  of  sending,"  he  said,  rising.  "  Good- 
evening." 

"Good-evening,"  she  responded.  "Come 
back  and  report,  won't  you  ?" 

He  only  gave  her  a  bow  and  smile,  then  hast- 
ened on  his  way. 

The  Lakeside  family  were  just  about  to  sit 
down  to  tea  when  he  arrived,  and,  of  course, 
he  was  invited  to  partake  with  them. 

They  had  their  business  talk  at  the  table. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  meal  all  repaired  to 
the  porch  except  Miriam,  who,  leaving  the  en- 
tertainment of  the  guest  to  her  grandmother 
and  Ronald,  stole  quietly  out  into  the  garden, 
and  busied  herself  among  her  flowers. 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER  VALLEY.    223 

She  was  training  a  vine  over  a  trellis,  when  a 
familiar  step  on  the  walk  startled  her  slightly 
and  deepened  the  color  on  her  cheek ;  then  a 
voice  close  at  her  side  said,  "  Let  me  help  you. 
My  superior  height  will  give  me  an  advantage 
in  training  those  taller  tendrils." 

"  Thank  you,"  she  answered,  accepting  his 
offer,  but  without  looking  round,  and  feeling 
her  cheeks  grow" hot,  for  she  knew  instinctively 
what  was  coming. 

He  praised  the  beauty  of  the  vine  ;  then  pres- 
ently they  turned  from  it  to  the  flower-beds, 
and  for  a  little  made  conversation  about  them. 

Neither  felt  a  very  deep  interest  in  the  sub- 
ject-matter of  discourse  at  that  moment ;  there 
was  shortly  a  pause  in  the  stream  of  talk,  and 
summoning  up  all  his  courage,  Warren  began 
upon  the  theme  that  lay  nearest  his  heart. 

He  told  Miriam  frankly  that  he  loved  her  and 
wanted  to  make  her  his  wife  ;  that  she  had 
attracted  him  strongly  from  the  first  hour  of 
their  acquaintance,  and  more  and  more  as  he 
learned  to  know  her  better  and  perceived  the 
beauty  of  her  character,  till  months  ago  she  had 
become  so  dear  to  his  heart  that  he  felt  he 
should  be  able  to  find  little  joy  in  life  without 
her  sweet  companionship  ;  that  he  had  refrained 
from  speaking  till  now  only  because  of  his 
straitened  circumstances,  but  lately  he  had 
learned  that  an  investment  had  turned  out  re- 
markably well,  and  as  he  had  now  a  constantly 


224     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

increasing  and  lucrative  practice,  he  felt  justi- 
fied in  making  her  an  offer  of  his  heart  and 
hand,  having  a  reasonable  prospect  of  being 
able  to  support  her  in  comfort. 

He  paused,  but  receiving  no  reply,  went  on 
again. 

"  I  feel,  dear  Miss  Miriam,  that  your  worth 
is  far  beyond  my  deserts,  but  I  am  sure  no  one 
could  love  you  better  or  be  more  earnestly  and 
sincerely  determined  to  do  all  in  his  power  to 
make  your  life  bright  and  happy." 

Still  no  reply. 

"  I  fear  I  have  not  won  your  heart,"  he 
sighed,  "but,  dear  girl,  can  you  not  give  me 
a  little  hope  that  I  may  be  able  to  do  so  in 
time?" 

"  I  thank  you  sincerely  for  your  generous 
offer,  Captain  Charlton,"  she  responded  at  last, 
speaking  in  low,  tremulous  tones,  and  with 
half-averted  face,  "  but — but — I  think  I  cannot 
be  spared  from  home  ;  I  think  grandmother, 
the  children,  Ronald,  all  need  me.  Grand- 
mother is  too  old  to  bear  alone  the  burden  of 
household  cares  and  responsibilities,  and  Ronald 
is  not  yet  strong  enough  to  take  charge  of  the 
farm." 

"  I  see  it  all,"  he  said  ;  "  your  noble,  self-sac- 
rificing spirit  increases  my  esteem  and  affection, 
and  I  would  not  ask  you  to  forsake  a  duty  for 
my  sake  ;  but  can  you  not  give  me  some  hope 
for  the  future  ?" 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    225 

"  I  do  not  approve  of  long  engagements," 
she  said,  evasively. 

"  We  need  not  settle  the  question  of  its  length 
at  present,"  he  said,  in  ardent  tones,  taking 
her  hand  and  raising  it  to  his  lips;  "  only  let 
me  know  that  you  care  for  me  even  a  very 
little,  and  I  shall  not  despair  of  winning  you  at 
last." 

She  did  not  refuse  or  withdraw  the  hand  he 
had  taken,  nor  did  she  repulse  him  when  he 
ventured  upon  more  pronounced  demonstra- 
tions of  love. 

He  drew  her  hand  within  his  arm  and  led  her 
to  an  arbor  at  the  foot  of  the  garden. 

There  time  passed  very  swiftly,  and  the  moon 
was  already  shining  in  the  sky  when  they  re- 
turned to  the  house  with  faces  radiant  with 
happiness,  and  the  captain  announced  to  Mrs. 
Heath  and  Ronald,  whom  they  found  alone 
together  on  the  porch,  that  he  and  Miriam  were 
plighted  to  each  other  for  life. 

"  But  1  am  not  going  to  leave  you  yet,  dear 
grandmother,"  Miriam  said,  in  low,  tremulous 
tones,  as  the  old  lady  folded  her  to  her  heart 
and  wept  over  her  in  mingled  joy  and  grief. 

"  Oh,  my  darling,  i  don't  know  what  we 
could  ever  do  without  you  !"  she  sobbed,  hold- 
ing the  dear  girl  in  a  close  embrace  ;  "  and  yet 
I  could  not  for  a  moment  think  of  standing  in 
the  way  of  your  happiness,  dear,  unselfish  child 
that  you  arc,  and  have  always  been  !" 


226     THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

"  Surely  there's  no  need  of  either  alterna- 
tive," said  Ronald,  jocosely;  "  we've  only  to 
take  Warren  in  and  make  him  a  permanent  addi- 
tion to  the  family — a  valuable  one  he  will  be, 
too.  So,  young  folks,  I  give  you  my  blessing, 
and  gracefully  accept  the  situation." 

"  Certainly  it  would  be  a  delightful  arrange- 
ment for  us,  Ronald,"  the  old  lady  said.  "  We 
are  willing  to  share  our  dear  Miriam  with  you, 
Captain  Charlton,  if  you  will  not  rob  us  of  her 
altogether." 

"  There  will  be  plenty  of  time  to  talk  it  over, 
grandma,  before  anything  need  be  settled," 
Miriam  said,  with  a  blush  and  a  shy  glance  up 
into  her  lover's  face. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  with  a  proud,  fond  look  at 
her  ;  "  I  appreciate  your  kindness,  dear  madam, 
and  could  not  find  it  in  my  heart  to  make  so 
mean  a  return  as  to  rob  you  of  your  rightful 
share  in  one  who  owes  much  of  her  lovely 
womanhood  to  your  tender  care  and  training." 


CHAPTER    XX. 

MIRIAM  woke  the  next  morning  with  a 
lighter  and  happier  heart  than  she  had  car- 
ried in  her  bosom  for  years  ;  ever  since  the  tide 
ol  the  cruel  War  of  the  Rebellion  had  swept 
away  the  father  upon  whom  she  had  been  wont 
to  lean  from  early  infancy,  her  young  shoulders 
had  borne  burdens  all  too  heavy  for  their 
strength. 

But  now  one  as  strong  and  even  dearer  than 
that  loved  and  honored  parent  had  come  for- 
ward with  gallant,  tender  entreaties  that  she 
would  let  him  bear  them  for  her  ;  he  would  do 
it  from  love,  and  he  was  no  less  capable  than 
willing.  What  a  rest  it  would  be  to  lean  on  his 
strength  and  look  to  him  for  guidance  and  sup- 
port in  the  trials  and  duties  of  life  ! 

She  was  up  earlier  than  her  wont,  though  it 
was  a  rare  occurrence,  indeed,  when  the  sun 
found  her  in  her  bed,  and  came  down-stairs 
with  a  glad  song  upon  her  lips. 

Sandy  met  her  in  the  lower  hall.  "  Gude- 
mornin',  Miss  Mirry,"  he  said,  and  she  noticed 
a  slight  tremble  in  his  voice,  a  distressed  look 
on  his  face. 

It  stopped  the  song  on  her  lips,  and  set  her 


228      THE   TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

heart  to  beating  faster  with  a  nameless  fear 
(such  dreadful,  dreadful  things  had  happened 
of  late). 

"  Sandy,  what  is  wrong?"  she  asked,  catch- 
ing at  the  balustrade  for  support. 

"  Naething  to  fright  ye,  Miss  Mirry,"  he 
said,  reassuringly,  "  but  come  wi'  me  and  I'll 
show  ye,"  leading  the  way  out  through  the 
porch  into  the  garden.  "  I  hae  but  just  found 
her,  the  poor,  lone  creature,  and  I  want  you  to 
tell  me  what  shall  be  done  wi'  her." 

"  Who,  Sandy  ?  Of  whom  are  you  talking  ?" 
queried  Miriam,  following,  and  with  difficulty 
keeping  close  to  him,  as  he  passed  with  hurried 
steps  around  the  house  and  down  the  path  that 
led  to  the  barn-yard  and  the  fields  beyond. 

"  I'll  show  ye  in  a  minute,  Miss  Mirry.  I 
dinna  ken  who  she  is,  an'  I  much  doot  if  ye're 
ony  wiser  than  mysel'  on  that  point,  but  she's 
in  an  awfu'  condition,  and  canna  be  lang  for 
this  warld." 

In  another  moment  he  had  halted  beside  a 
haystack,  at  the  foot  of  which  lay  a  woman 
clothed  in  filthy  rags,  pale,  dishevelled,  uncon- 
scious, lying  with  closed  eyes,  but  moaning 
feebly  as  if  in  pain. 

"  Poor,  poor  creature  !"  cried  Miriam,  lean- 
ing over  her  and  dropping  hot  tears  on  the 
pallid  face.  "  Oh,  Sandy,  who  can.  she  be  ?  and 
what  has  brought  her  to  this  ?  She  doesn't 
look  like  a  gypsy,  I  don't  think  she  is  a  for- 


THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY.    229 

eigner  ;  but,  oh,  what  she  must  have  suffered  ! 
What  can  we  do  for  her  ?" 

"  Not  much,  I  fear,  my  dear  young  leddy," 
answered  McAllister.  "  She's  dyin',  I  think, 
and  I  dinna  ken  whether  she  could  be  moved 
without  hastenin'  the  end  that  canna  be  far  off." 

"  The  doctor  must  be  sent  for  at  once,"  said 
Miriam,  with  decision. 

"I've  started  Peter  off  for  him  already,"  re- 
turned McAllister,  "  and  na  doot  he'll  be  here 
afore  lang." 

"  Could  we  give  her  anything  in  the  mean 
time  ? — food  or  medicine  ?"  Miriam  asked.  "  She 
looks  famished." 

"  She  does  that,  Miss  Mirry." 

"  Stay  by  her  and  I'll  run  to  the  house  for 
some  warm  milk,"  Miriam  said,  speeding  away 
as  she  spoke. 

She  was  back  again  almost  immediately,  and 
Sandy  raising  the  poor  woman's  head,  she 
poured  a  little  of  the  milk  into  her  mouth.  After 
several  trials  they  succeeded  in  getting  her  to 
swallow  a  few  drops,  but  she  did  not  open  her 
eyes. 

By  that  time  Dr.  Jasper  had  arrived,  and  Cap- 
tain Charlton  with  him.  They  looked  at  the 
wanderer,  then  exchanged  grave,  significant 
glances. 

"Do  you  know  her?"  asked  Miriam,  and 
both  answered,  "  It  is  Belinda  Himes." 

'  Is  it  possible  !"  exclaimed   Miriam,  in  low, 


230    THE  TRAGEDY  OF  WILD  RIVER   VALLEY. 

moved  tones.  "  Doctor,  can  you  do  nothing 
for  her?" 

"  Nothing  !"  he  sighed  ;  "  she  is  dying — will 
live  but  a  few  minutes,  I  think." 

"  Dying,"  cried  Miriam,  deeply  moved ; 
'•  and,  oh,  I  fear  she  is  not  ready  for  heaven  !" 

Dropping  on  her  knees  by  the  side  of  the 
poor  creature,  and  putting  her  lips  to  her  ear, 
"  Look  to  Jesus,"  she  said,  in  pitying  accents  ; 
"  He  is  your  only  hope  in  this  hour,  but  '  He 
is  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost ; '  look  and 
live  !  Oh,  cry  to  Him  at  once,  '  Lord,  save  or 
I  perish  !  ' 

"  I  think  she  does  not  hear  you,"  the  doctor 
said,  with  emotion. 

44  Hark  !  she  seems  to  be  trying  to  speak," 
said  Mrs.  Heath,  who  had  joined  the  little 
group  a  moment  before. 

At  that  a  deep  silence  fell  on  them,  each  ear 
being  intent  to  catch  the  words  that  presently 
came  slowly,  gaspingly,  from  the  pale  lips  al- 
ready stiffening  in  death — "  The — way— of— 
trans — gressors — is  hard." 

Her  eyes  remained  closed  ;  she  did  not  seem 
conscious  of  their  presence  or  of  anything  ;  two 
or  three  long-drawn  breaths  followed  the  words, 
and  then  all  was  still. 

A  moment's  solemn  silence,  broken  by  the 
voice  of  Sandy  McAllister  in  low,  moved  tones, 
"  Poor,  misguided  creature  !  she  has,  na  doot, 
proved  the  truth  o'  those  words  o'  inspiration 


TUJ-:  TRAGEDY  OF  ii'/u)  A- //'/•; A'  VALLEY.  231 

in  the  sad  experience  <>'  the   past   few   \v« 
She's  been  in  hiding  frae  the  law,  and  has  died 
o'  want  an'  misery." 

They  gave  her  decent  burial,  paying  the  ex- 
pense out  of  the  money  left  by  her  husband. 
They  knew  of  no  relative  or  friend  to  summon 
to  her  obsequies,  and  there  was  no  one  to  drop 
a  tear  of  affection  upon  her  lonely  grave.  She 
and  Phelim  O'Rourke  were  reaping  in  another 
world  what  they  had  sown  in  this. 

Deprived  of  their  leader,  and  fearing  to  share 
his  fate  at  the  hands  of  those  who  had  dealt  out 
stern  justice  to  him,  the  rest  of  the  band  had 
fled  the  vicinity,  and  peace,  quietness,  and 
security  reigned  all  up  and  down  Wild  River 
Valley  ;  but  the  story  of  its  tragedy  will  linger 
for  years,  if  not  forever,  in  the  minds  of  its 
inhabitants — a  tragedy  that  was  largely  the  re- 
sult of  a  disregard  on  the  part  of  the  law-makers 
of  the  State  of  that  law  of  God—'4  Whoso  shed- 
deth  man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood  be 
shed." 


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